The role of Recombinant interleukin-2 in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Dysregulated immune response occurring in chronic hepatitis B prevents the virus elimination and contributes to progression of the infectious process. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness (biochemical, immunological, virological) of combination treatment with tenofovir and Recombinant interleukin-2 in chronic hepatitis B patients. Material and methods. A comparative analysis of the results from laboratory examination of chronic hepatitis B patients in two comparison groups, comparable in sex, age, stage of fibrosis, viral load, was carried out: group I (n = 27) received tenofovir, according to the accepted recommendations, and recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2), group II (n = 25) — tenofovir. Results. Before the onset of antiviral therapy all patients with chronic hepatitis B had increased hepatic transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and gammaglutamyl transpeptidase from 1.2 to 5 norms as well as dysregulated cellular immunity factors with significantly decreased absolute count of CD4+, CD8+, CD16+ and increased CD20+ lymphocytes. After 12 months of treatment, patients in observation groups showed normalized cytolysis and cholestasis with insignificant intergroup differences. The level of absolute count of CD4+, CD8+ T-cells and CD16+ lymphocytes in the I group increased (by 24.7%, 24.1%, 34.5%, respectively, all p 0.001 relative to the initial values), not observed in comparison group. The level of CD20+ lymphocytes in group 1 was decreased by 35.9%, and in group 2 — by 7.9% (pI–II 0.001). In group 1, the level of HBsAg after 12 months of treatment became lower by 52% (p 0.001). Conclusion. The conducted pilot study showed that the combination etiopathogenetic therapy of patients with chronic hepatitis B using tenofovir and rIL-2 improves liver functional state, restores the disturbed balance of immunocompetent cells: by increasing level of CD4+, CD8+ T-lymphocytes, CD16+ lymphocytes and reducing the count of CD20+ cells, and also allows to steadily reduce blood serum HBsAg level.