Response of liver histology to interferon therapy with chronic hepatitis B and C

Interferon (IFN) was used alone or incombination with corticosteroid (CS) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (B-CH) and C (C-CH), and the response to IFN therapy was histologically investigated. IFN was used alone or together with CS in 50 B-CH and 37 C-CH patients. The liver biopsy findings before and after treatment were compared between the two groups, using a modification of the HAI score system. Furthermore, the B-CH were examined for intrahepatic HBs, HBc and HBx antigens and the C-CH patients for HCV-core antigen by the indirect immuno-peroxidase stainings. Histological examination revealed that C-CH had less marked periportal necrosis than B-CH, but had more marked portal inflammation. Both groups showed a remarkable improvement after treatment. It should be noted that in both groups there was a negative correlation between the fibrosis and inflammation and the level of intrahepatic virus antigen on the one hand and the effect of IFN on the other. These results suggest that the intrahepatic levels of virus antigen had a bearing on the effect of IFN in both groups.