[Longitudinal follow-up study of 64 children chronically infected with hepatitis B virus, treated and not treated with interferon].

With the purpose of knowing the spectrum of the disease we studied the outcome of 64 children chronically infected by Hepatitis B Virus (HBV): 38 treated with Interferon (INF) and 26 without treatment. The period of infection was no less than 8 months, the average age was 4.7 years, 39 boys, 25 girls, and the observation period was 5 years, 3 moths (range 6 months-14 years). We divided them in 2 groups: a) 40 patients AgeBH positive from which 26 received treatment. b) 24 patients AgeBH negative from which 12 received treatment. We used 5,000,000 U. of interferon per M2 3 times a week for 16 weeks. The results do not show statistically difference that might favor the use of INF in order to reach seroconversion neither of Age nor Ags. Meanwhile the age is significant in Ags seroconversion. This might lead us to the question if seroconversion is due to the natural course of the disease once the body gets rid of the virus, or to interferon treatment. During the study period only one case turned to cirrhosis (1.7%) and none to Hepato carcinoma.