SHORT-TERM CORTICOSTEROID-THERAPY FOR CHRONIC ACTIVE HEPATITIS-B

Seventeen patients with chronic active type B hepatitis were treated with prednisone for 4 weeks. All were initially hepatitis B e antigen (HB(e)Ag)-positive and 14 were DNA-polymerase-positive as well. In the follow-up period of 1 year, 10 patients became persistently negative for DNA polymerase and 11 cleared HB(e)Ag. from serum, while among 17 matched untreated controls only one lost DNA polymerase and HB(e)Ag. However, 1 patient who was initially DNA-polymerase-negative and who lost HB(e)Ag after treatment reactivated to HB(e)Ag after 4 months and DNA polymerase appeared in his serum. He suffered prolonged exacerbation of liver disease after treatment and died of liver failure. Shortterm corticosteroid therapy may be of value in patients with chronic active type B hepatitis, however, in some cases such treatment may be disastrous.