BACKGROUND/AIMS: The most prevalent @entity6194 in Turkey is anti-HBe-positive. No consistently effective therapy is yet available for the treatment of these @entity1 . The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of interferon-alpha and thymosin-alpha 1 combination in the treatment of naive anti-HBe-positive and @entity97 DNA-positive chronic @entity1956 @entity1 . METHODOLOGY: Twenty-one @entity1 were enrolled in the study. All @entity1 had documented anti-HBe-positive, @entity97 DNA-positive @entity3619 without evidence of @entity82 . @entity1 received a 26-week combination course of 1.6 mg thymosin-alpha 1 subcutaneously twice a week and 10 MIU interferon-alpha subcutaneously three times a week, followed by interferon-alpha monotherapy at the same dose for another 26 weeks. After treatment @entity1 were observed for a further 26 weeks. Endpoints were a normalization of @entity493 aminotransferase and negativity of @entity97 DNA at weeks 52 and 78, as well as an improvement in liver histology at week 78. RESULTS: Eighteen (87.7%) of the 21 @entity1 responded by losing serum HBV DNA and normalizing @entity493 aminotransferase values at the end of the 52-week treatment period. Sixteen (76.2%) of these @entity1 became sustained responders, with normal @entity493 aminotransferase and negative @entity97 DNA at the end of 78 weeks. Two @entity1 were non-responders, two relapsed and one had a breakthrough during therapy. Significant improvements in the Knodell histological activity index were observed in the responders. No adverse events other than those seen previously with interferon monotherapy were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Combination @entity4020 and thymosin-alpha 1 treatment may provide a safe and effective therapeutic approach for the difficult-to-treat anti-HBe-positive chronic @entity1956 @entity1 . Further controlled studies are needed to assess the full role of this treatment strategy.

Combination thymosin-alpha 1 and @entity4020 in the treatment of anti-HBe-positive chronic XXXX in Turkey.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity97 :: ('10407', 'Species') :: ['HBV'] @entity82 :: ('MESH:D005355', 'Disease') :: ['cirrhosis'] @entity1956 :: ('MESH:D006509', 'Disease') :: ['hepatitis B'] @entity6194 :: ('MESH:D019694', 'Disease') :: ['type of chronic hepatitis B'] @entity4020 :: ('3440', 'Gene') :: ['interferon-alpha 2b'] @entity3619 :: ('MESH:D006521', 'Disease') :: ['chronic active hepatitis B'] @entity493 :: ('CHEBI:16449', 'Chemical') :: ['alanine']
@entity1956 :: (MESH:D006509,Disease) :: ['hepatitis B']
