We compared the therapeutic efficacy of low dose with that of standard dose of interferon (IFN) treatment and also compared the first IFN treatment with retreatment.

We have studied 51 children (age, 2~14) treated for chronic hepatitis B from March 1990 to August 1999. Twenty seven children had been treated with 3 MU/m² (2.66±0.66 MU/m²) of IFN-α three times a week for 6 months (range, 6~12 months), whereas 24 children with 6 MU/m² (4.45±0.94 MU/m²). There was no significant difference in gender, age, initial ALT and HBV DNA levels between each comparative group.

Among the 27 children treated with 3 MU/m² of IFN, ALT level had normalized in 11 children (41%) and anti-HBe seroconversion occurred in 9 children (33%) one year after the initiation of treatment. In comparison, among the 24 children treated with 6 MU/m² of IFN, ALT normalized in 12 children (50%) and anti-HBe seroconversion occurred in 7 children (29%). In comparing the first treatment group to retreatment group, ALT level had normalized in 23 children (45%) and anti-HBe seroconversion occurred in 16 children (31%) among the 51 children treated with the first course of IFN treatment. In comparison, ALT normalized and anti-HBe seroconversion occurred in 3 children (25%) among the retreated 12 children.

There was no significant difference in the therapeutic efficacies between 3 MU/m² and 6 MU/m² dose of IFN treated groups in ALT normalization and anti-HBe seroconversion. The retreatment efficacy of IFN-α was as effective as the first treatment.