[Markers of chronic hepatitis B in children after completion of therapy with isoprinosine].

Fourteen children with chronic active hepatitis B treated with isoprinosine were followed-up for 3-8 years. In no child HBs antigen was eliminated. No seroconversion was noted in children in whom HBe antigen was eliminated. Anti-HBe antibodies were found in 11 children, including 6 children in whom they were present all the time following therapy, and 2 children in whom these antibodies reappeared after an initial elimination. These results suggest that the inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication produced by isoprinosine may be transient. Therefore, longer lasting immunomodulating therapy should be considered.