Combination therapy of glycyrrhizin withdrawal and human fibroblast interferon for chronic hepatitis B.

In ten carriers positive for chronic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), and DNA polymerase, the authors investigated the efficacy of the combination therapy consisting of glycyrrhizin withdrawal and human fibroblast interferon (locally produced). Glycyrrhizin was given for four weeks and was stopped without tapering off the dose. Human fibroblast interferon was given continuously. Thirty-six weeks after the end of this treatment, three of the ten patients were HBeAg negative but not anti-HBe positive, and in one of these three DNA polymerase became undetectable. Another patient showed a loss of DNA polymerase with HBeAg. Transaminase levels decreased in nine of the patients. Glycyrrhizin appeared to act as an antiviral agent in four patients and had a corticoid-like effect in three. DNA polymerase decreased remarkably after interferon administration, and serum transaminase levels increased. No side effects were reported in patients receiving glycyrrhizin. In contrast, almost all patients receiving human fibroblast interferon had influenza-like symptoms, which, although initially severe, decreased with subsequent injections of interferon. Thus this combination therapy seems safe and effective.