Fibroblast interferon treatment of a patient with chronic active hepatitis. Increased number of circulating T lymphocytes and elimination of rosette-inhibitory factor.

A 23 year old woman with chronic active hepatitis documented by liver biopsy demonstrated persistent hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B virus specific DNA polymerase hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg), for approximately one year. The number of circulating T lymphocytes that rosetted with sheep erythrocytes was decreased, and a rosette-inhibitory factor was present in her peripheral blood. Interferon treatment (1 X 10(6) U/day intramuscularly for 82 days) resulted in a decrease of HBsAg and disappearance of HBcAg, (HBeAg) and specific DNA polymerase. In addition, the number of T lymphocytes increased to normal, and the rosette-inhibitory factor disappeared from the circulation. These findings suggest that the effect of interferon in chronic active hepatitis is mediated in part through its action on the immune system.