| [ Summary ] |
Patients with chronic hepatitis B who are treated with interferon must be evaluated on two points, the first is the direct efficacy of interferon, and secondly the long-term prognosis of chronic liverdiseases. Though the HBe antigen seroconversion rates are between 30% and 40% after each administration of interferon, more than half of the subjects show positive results for HBe antigens. Therefore, the seroconversion is not the final goal, but "high quality seroconversion" is necessary. The overall cumulative rate of progression to cirrhosis or liver cancer is 24.0% for cirrhosis and 9.8% for liver cancer the lOth year after initiation of interferon therapy. Those who experience seroconversion in the early phases after interferon treatment and maintain these virological conditions continuously have less liver damage and good prognoses. In relation to liver cancer, it is important to note that it may occur in patients without cirrhosis. |