Efficacy and safety of interferon-γin the treatment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of interferon-γ(IFN-γ) in treatment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.Methods Fifty patients with chronic hepatitis B were randomly divided into IFN-γ group (group A) and conventional drug group (group B).The duration of the treatment was 9 months.Clinical symptoms,liver function test, serum markers of liver fibrosis-hyaluronic acid(HA),laminin(LN)、procollagen type Ⅲ(PⅢP)and collagen type Ⅳ(CIV) were tested,Ultra sound evaluation was performed before, at 3,6,9 months and 3 months after cessation of treatment.Results The serum levels of HA,LN,PⅢP and CIV were significant decreased at the end of therapy and 3 months after therapy in group A,but there were no change in group B.The total effective rate of liver fibrosis at the end of therapy in group A was 64.0%,much higher than that in group B (12.0%) (-P-0.001).The flu-like reaction occurred in 15 cases and leucopenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 2 cases in group A,but they were slight.There was not adverse event observed in group B.Conclusion IFN-γ is effective and safe for liver fibrosis with chronic hepatitis B.