Objective: Investigation in the role of neutralizing anti-interferon antibodies(NA) during interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Methods: To measure the levels of NA in 48 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treated with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) at the point before treated and at 3 and 6 months with treatment respectively. At the same time to measure the levels of NA in health volunteers.
Results: NA can not be measured in health volunteers and those patients with CHB at the point before treated. At the point of 6 months with treatment, 15 patients with CHB got complete respond, 10 patients with CHB got no respond, 23 patients with CHB got partly respond, respectively. NA positive rate was 25% at 3 months and 37.5% at 6 months with treatment, respectively. (P > 0.05). NA positive rate was significantly higher in complete responders group and partly responders group than in no responders group at 3 months with. NA positive rate was significantly higher in complete responders group than in no responders group at 3 months with.
Conclusion: NA can be measured in blood serum after treated with interferon. NA influences the efficacy of interferon, especially at 3 months.