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- Title
A short course of prednisolone in chronic type B hepatitis. Report of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
- Authors
Hoofnagle, Jay H.; Davis, Gary L.; Pappas, S. Chris; Hanson, Reginald G.; Peters, Marion; Avigan, Mark I.; Waggoner, Jeanne G.; Jones, E. Anthony; Seeff, Leonard B.; Hoofnagle, J H; Davis, G L; Pappas, S C; Hanson, R G; Peters, M; Avigan, M I; Waggoner, J G; Jones, E A; Seeff, L B
- Abstract
Fifteen patients with chronic type B hepatitis were treated with corticosteroids in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial lasting 28 days. Ten patients received prednisolone, 60 mg/d for 2 weeks, then 30 mg/d for another 2 weeks; 5 patients received placebo. Serum aminotransferase levels decreased significantly during prednisolone therapy but 4 to 10 weeks after abrupt withdrawal of the drug, they rebounded to levels greater than those before treatment. This exacerbation of disease lasted for several months and was prolonged and symptomatic in 3 patients. Hepatitis B virus levels did not change substantially during treatment. Follow-up examinations showed no improvement in biochemical or serologic features of the disease in any of the 15 patients; follow-up liver biopsies showed a worsening in 4 of 7 treated patients but in 0 of 5 control patients. Thus, a 28-day course of prednisolone produced no beneficial effects in patients with mild-to-moderate chronic type B hepatitis; on the contrary, such treatment may be harmful.
- Subjects
ADRENOCORTICAL hormones; HORMONE therapy; HEPATITIS B treatment
- Publication
Annals of Internal Medicine, 1986, Vol 104, Issue 1, p12
- ISSN
0003-4819
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.7326/0003-4819-104-1-12