Decreased interferon response by lymphocytes from children with chronic hepatitis.

Since a decreased interferon response has been linked with certain chronic viral infections, a preliminary study was undertaken to determine whether an altered interferon response may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis, a complication of type B hepatitis. The production of interferon by lymphocytes from patients with chronic hepatitis was compared with the production by lymphocytes from normal subjects. The amount of interferon produced by paramyxovirus-stimulated lymphocytes from 16 patients was substantially smaller than that produced by lymphocytes from 12 healthy donors. The results indicate that decreased production of interferon may be responsible for the chronicity of the disease. However, further studies are necessary to establish causality.