慢性乙型肝炎患者外周血单个核细胞穿孔素表达与干扰素抗病毒疗效的关系

目的研究慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)患者干扰素(IFN)治疗前、后外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)中穿孔素表达情况,探讨其对IFN抗病毒疗效的影响。方法采用免疫细胞化学技术检测35例CHB患者IFNα-2b治疗前、后PBMC中穿孔索的表达。结果IFNα～2b治疗前、后PBMC穿孔素的表达分别为7．9%±4．6%和15．3%±6．4%,较治疗前明显上升,t=6．53,P＜0．01,差异有统计学意义。IFNα-2b治疗后完全应答者有12例、部分应答者14例、无应答者9例。IFN治疗后完全应答组穿孔索的表达为19．2%±5．2%,部分应答组为14．2%±5．5%,无应答组为11．7%±6．7%,完全应答组与部分应答组比较,t=2．33,P＜0．05；完全应答组与无应答组比较,t=2．89,P＜0．01,差异有统计学意义。结论CHB患者IFN治疗可以使PBMC中穿孔素的表达升高,PBMC中穿孔素的表达可能与IFN抗病毒疗效有密切的关系。     

慢性乙型肝炎患者干扰素疗效与CD28阳性外周血单个核细胞的关系

探讨干扰素疗效与慢性乙肝患者CD2 8阳性外周血单个核细胞 (PBMCs)的关系。分离 32例慢性乙肝患者及 8例正常对照PBMCs,以间接免疫荧光流式细胞技术检测CD2 8+ PBMCs,结果显示慢性乙肝患者在干扰素治疗前和结束时CD2 8+ PBMCs均较正常对照组显著降低 (分别为P <0 0 1及P <0 0 5 ) ;干扰素治疗结束时患者CD2 8+ PBMCs水平显著升高 ,与治疗前相比差异具有极显著意义 (P <0 0 1) ;抗病毒治疗 3个月后有 2 1例患者达到完全或部分应答标准 ,11例无应答 ;产生完全或部分应答组 ,在治疗前、后CD2 8+ PBMCs均相应高于无应答组 ;进一步分析表明 ,治疗前完全应答组显著高于无应答组 ,差异具有显著性意义 (P <0 0 5 ) ,而部分应答组虽高于无应答组 ,但差异无显著性意义 (P >0 0 5 )。研究结果提示慢性乙肝患者CD2 8+ PBMCs水平可能与患者对干扰素的应答有关 ,似可作为干扰素疗效预测的指标。     

慢性乙型肝炎患者外周血单核细胞膜干扰素α/β受体的表达

探讨慢性乙肝患者外周血单核细胞膜干扰素α/β受体表达水平与干扰素α抗病毒疗效的关系.30例慢性乙肝患者均给予干扰素α抗病毒治疗6个月,应用流式细胞技术对所有患者治疗前的外周血单核细胞膜干扰素α/β受体表达水平进行检测,比较应答组与无应答组外周血单核细胞膜干扰素α/β受体表达的差异性及其临床意义.应答组和无应答组在单核细胞膜干扰素α/β受体表达水平有显著差异.多因素Logistic回归分析显示单核细胞膜干扰素α/β受体水平对干扰素疗效影响较大.抗病毒疗效与机体内单核细胞膜干扰素α/β受体的表达密切相关,可作为干扰素疗效的一个独立的预测因子.     

慢性乙型肝炎肝组织中 PD-L1在干扰素治疗中的表达

目的：研究慢性乙型肝炎患者肝组织中程序性死亡分子配体1（PD-L1）在进行聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a 抗病毒治疗前后及不同应答组间的表达变化，以进一步明确其与干扰素抗病毒疗效的相关性。方法15例慢性乙肝患者予以聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a 治疗48周，根据抗病毒疗效分为完全应答组、部分应答组及无应答组，检测治疗前后及不同应答组间 ALT、HBV DNA、HBV 标志物及肝脏病理变化，采用免疫组织化学方法结合图像定量分析系统检测肝组织 PD-L1的表达。结果在长效干扰素抗病毒治疗48周后，完全应答组 ALT 均降至正常，HBV DNA 低于检测下限，HBeAg 出现血清学转换，肝脏炎症程度有所好转，肝脏 PD-L1表达较治疗前明显下降（P ＜0．05）；部分应答组 ALT 降至正常， HBV DNA 较治疗前有所下降，但仍未低于检测下限，HBeAg 未发生血清学转换，肝脏炎症程度有所好转，肝脏 PD-L1表达较治疗前明显下降（P ＜0．05）；无应答组 ALT、HBV DNA、肝脏炎症程度及肝组织 PD-L1的表达较治疗前无明显变化，HBeAg 均未发生血清学转换。结论慢性乙型肝炎患者进行聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a 抗病毒治疗，可通过下调肝组织 PD-L1表达从而抑制病毒复制，改善肝脏炎性反应程度。     

慢性乙肝患者外周血单个核细胞APOBEC3G mRNA表达的水平及意义

目的探讨外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）APOBEC3GmRNA表达水平与乙肝病毒（HBV）慢性感染的关系。方法用实时荧光相对定量RT．PCR的方法检测27例慢性乙肝患者以及16名健康人PBMC中APOBEC3GmRNA的水平，同时检测乙肝患者外周血HBV病毒载量及肝功能ALT。结果慢性乙肝患者PBMC中APOBEC3GmRNA的表达水平高于健康对照组，差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．01），且与外周血HBV病毒载量成正相关（r=0．73，P〈0．01），与ALT水平无明显相关性（P〉0．05）。结论APOBEC3G在人体内对HBV复制的影响可能不是直接的抑制作用。     

定量检测慢性乙型肝炎患者肝组织乙型肝炎病毒DNA的临床价值

目的探讨慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)患者肝内乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)DNA载量与血清HBV DNA、乙型肝炎病毒e抗原(HBeAg)水平的相关性及其在抗病毒治疗中的意义.方法41例HBeAg阳性CHB患者,在干扰素α和拉米夫定联合治疗前进行肝穿刺,取肝组织分别进行HBV DNA检测及组织学检查,据肝组织HBVDNA载量小于等于或大于104fg/cm3将其分为两组,治疗前及治疗期间监测其肝功能、血清HBeAg及HBV DNA情况.结果(1)肝组织HBV DNA载量高于血清HBV DNA载量(对数值4.081±1.127与3.163±1.010,t=2.218,P＜0.05),二者高度相关(r=0.840,t=4.322,P＜0.001);肝组织HBV DNA载量与血清HBeAg亦呈正相关(r=0.459,t=3.056,P＜0.005).(2)肝组织HBV DNA载量与肝组织炎症活动度呈反向关系(x2=3.874,P＜0.05).(3)治疗期间两组患者血清HBV DNA水平均明显下降,治疗前肝组织HBV DNA水平低者效果较好;治疗1年时HBeAg、抗-HBe血清转化率以肝组织HBV DNA水平低者为高(HBeAg转阴率68.4%与36.4%,x2=4.194,P＜0.05;抗-HBe阳转率73.7%与40.9%,x2=4.447,P＜0.05).结论肝组织HBV DNA水平较血清HBV DNA、HBeAg水平更能准确反映肝组织HBV DNA复制情况,且能间接反映机体的免疫状态,可作为抗病毒治疗适应证选择及疗效预测因子.     

慢性乙肝患者血清病毒载量、肝组织病毒抗原表达及炎症分级的关系

为探讨慢性乙肝患者血清病毒载量、肝组织病毒抗原表达与肝组织炎症分级的关系,对113例慢性乙肝患者进行了血清HBVDNA定量检测、肝组织活检进行病理诊断及乙肝病毒表面抗原、核心抗原免疫组化染色,并分析其相关性。结果显示肝组织病毒抗原的表达与血清HBVDNA水平显著相关;血清HBVDNA水平与肝组织炎症分级无显著相关性;肝组织炎症分级与HBcAg表达显著相关,但与HBsAg表达无显著相关性。     

干扰素联合利巴韦林治疗由一名献血员所致慢性丙型肝炎62例分析

目的 应用干扰素α-2b联合利巴韦林治疗由一名献血员所致62例慢性丙型肝炎(CHC)患者,评估其疗效.方法 62例输血后CHC患者给予干扰素α-2b联合利巴韦林治疗(标准干扰素3～5MU,隔日一次注射,口服利巴韦林0.6～ 1.0g/d),疗程48周,随访96周.以持续病毒应答(SVR)率、早期病毒学应答(EVR)率、治疗结束时病毒学应答(ETVR)率、停药后生物化学应笞率为考核指标,同时观察药物不良反应.计量资料用均数±标准差(x-±s)表示,计数资料用x2检验.结果 SVR率为83.9％ (52/62),EVR率为95.2％ (59/62),ETVR率为87.1％ (54/62),停药后生物化学应答率为100.0％.不同病毒载量(x 2=10.13,P＜0.05)和不同年龄(x 2=14.58,P＜0.01)患者SVR率差异明显.干扰素所致8例甲状腺功能轻度异常者经内分泌专科协助能坚持完成抗病毒治疗.结论 干扰素α-2b联合利巴韦林治疗CHC患者疗效显著,获得SVR的52例停药后随访96周均无复发,疗效与感染HCV时较年轻、感染时间较短、多数患者病毒载量较低、治疗依从性较好等因素有关,与性别无关.只要患者血清HCV RNA阳性,均应抗病毒治疗,以清除病毒、阻断和延缓病情进展.     

慢性乙型肝炎患者干扰素应答与外周血单核细胞IFN—α和IL-18表达的关系

目的分析慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）患者外周血单核细胞（PBMC）干扰素-α（IFN—α）及白细胞介素18（IL-18）mRNA的诱导表达差异，评价慢性乙型肝炎患者PBMC细胞免疫功能。方法对2004年6月至2005年5月华中科技大学同济医学院附属协和医院52例门诊和住院CHB患者，聚肌胞苷酸（PolyIC）体外刺激正常对照组和CHB组患者PBMC，取培养上清利用病毒保护试验测定IFN—α2b治疗前后PBMC表达的干扰素抗病毒生物学活性。同时用脂多糖（LPS）体外刺激不同组PBMC，RT—PCR检测PBMCIL-18 mRNA水平的变化。结果治疗前干扰素治疗应答组（n=13）和无应答组（n=27）PBMC分泌的干扰素生物学活性均显著低于对照组（n=20）（均P〈0．01）。应答组干扰素活性随治疗时间延长而增加，1个月时已显著高于无应答组（P〈0．01）；无应答组干扰素活性始终处于低下水平。治疗前，应答组和无应答组PBMC IL-18 mRNA水平也显著低于对照组（均P〈0．01）；治疗后，应答组IL-18 mRNA水平随治疗时间延长而升高，1个月时也著显高于无应答组（P〈0．01），无应答组IL-18 mRNA水平始终较低。PBMC IFN—α活性和IL-18 mRNA水平有良好的正相关性（r=0．922，P〈0．01）。结论慢性HBV感染患者的细胞免疫功能受损，不能正常表达IFN—α和IL-18，但应答组患者经干扰素治疗后表达能力逐渐恢复。     

肝移植术后丙型肝炎复发患者抗病毒治疗效果及其对肝纤维化的影响

目的通过对肝移植术后丙型肝炎复发患者进行抗病毒治疗,研究抗病毒治疗效果以及对肝纤维化进展的影响。方法对本院2005年6月至2012年12月收治的23例肝移植术后丙型肝炎复发患者进行干扰素联合利巴韦林抗病毒治疗,观察病毒学应答情况、不良反应以及治疗前后肝组织病理情况。计数资料以例数表示,不同抗病毒疗效组间肝纤维化情况比较采用等级资料秩和检验。结果 12例患者因不良反应终止治疗。23例患者共获得结束时病毒学应答(ETVR)18例,其中6例获得持续病毒学应答(SVR),12例出现反跳。19例患者完成前后肝组织病理检查,SVR组肝纤维化减轻3例、持平1例、进展0例;停药后反跳组肝纤维化减轻2例、持平3例、进展5例;无应答组肝纤维化减轻0例、持平1例、进展4例;3组间抗纤维化效果比较,差异有统计学意义(χ2=7.330,P=0.026)。结论肝移植术后丙型肝炎复发患者抗病毒治疗SVR率较低,有效的抗病毒治疗可延缓肝纤维化进展,取得SVR的患者肝纤维化改善效果最佳。     

抗病毒药物对肝组织乙型肝炎病毒共价闭合环状DNA的影响

目的 探讨抗病毒药物对肝组织HBV共价闭合环状DNA(cccDNA)的影响.方法 71例HBeAg阳性的慢性乙型肝炎患者分别接受48周的拉米夫定-干扰素序贯治疗、单用拉米夫定治疗和24周的干扰素治疗,随访24周.检测治疗前、后肝组织HBV DNA和cccDNA水平;检测治疗前、后及停药24周时的血清HBV DNA和ALT水平.比较C、B基因型HBV感染患者肝组织HBV DNA和cccDNA水平.结果 治疗结束时,序贯治疗、拉米夫定治疗和干扰素治疗组患者肝组织HBV DNA分别为(4.7±1.1)log10、(4.6±1.5)log10和(5.6±1.5)log10,均低于治疗前水平(P＜0.05);cccDNA分别为(3.4±1.3)log10、(3.8±1.1)log10和(5.0±1.5)log10,均低于治疗前水平(P＜0.05).17例患者出现了HBeAg血清学转换,其肝组织cccDNA下降幅度明显大于HBeAg阳性患者(3.0 log10比1.6 log10,P＜0.05).停药24周,18例患者获得持续病毒学应答,其cccDNA基线值明显低于停药后出现病毒反跳患者(P＜0.05).肝组织cccDNA的变化与肝组织HBV DNA的改变正相关(P＜0.05);治疗结束时,肝组织cccDNA水平与血清HBeAg滴度正相关(P＜0.01).C基因型与B基因型HBV感染患者治疗前、后肝组织HBV DNA和cccDNA的变化无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 48周的拉米夫定-干扰素序贯治疗和拉米夫定治疗对肝组织cccDNA抑制作用强于24周的干扰素治疗.肝组织cccDNA低水平患者易获得较好的抗病毒疗效.HBV基因型对肝组织cccDNA含量无明显影响.     

Effects of antiviral agents and HBV genotypes on intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients

AIM： To evaluate the effects of antiviral agents and HBV genotypes on intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA （ccc DNA） in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.
METHODS： Seventy-one patients received lamivudine （n = 35）, or sequential therapy with lamivudine- interferon alpha 2b （IFN-α 2b, n = 24） for 48 wk, or IFN-α 2b （n = 12） for 24 wk. All subjects were followed up for 24 wk. Intrahepatic ccc DNA was measured quantitatively by PCR. HBV genotypes were analyzed by PCR-RFLP.
RESULTS： Sequential lamivudine- INF-α therapy, lamivudine and INF-α monotherapy reduced ccc DNA of 1.7 log, 1.4 log and 0.8 log, respectively （P 〈 0.05）. Seventeen out of the 71 patieots developed HBeAg seroconversion, the reduction of ccc DNA in the HBeAg seroconversion patients was more significant than that in the HBeAg positive patients （3.0 log vs 1.6 log, P = 0.0407）. Twenty-four weeks after antiviral therapy withdrawal, 16 patients had a sustained virological response, the baseline intrahepatic ccc DNA in the patients with a sustained virological response was significantly lower than that in the patients with virological rebound （4.6 log vs 5.4 log, P = 0.0472）. HBV genotype C accounted for 85.9% （n = 61）, and genotype B for 14.1% （n = 10）, respectively, in the 71 patients. There was no significant difference in the change of ccc DNA level between HBV genotypes C and B （2.1 log vs 1.9 log）.
CONCLUSION： Forty-eight week sequential lamivudine- INF-α therapy and lamivudine monotherapy reduce ccc DNA more significantly than 24-wk INF-α monotherapy. Low baseline intrahepatic ccc DNA level may predict the long-term efficacy of antiviral treatment. HBV genotypes C and B have no obvious influence on ccc DNA load.     

长期核苷(酸)类抗病毒治疗的乙型肝炎肝硬化患者肝癌发生相关因素研究

目的 探讨长期接受核苷酸抗病毒治疗的乙型肝炎肝硬化患者肝癌发生的相关危险因素。方法 2002年5月～2015年5月接受核苷(酸)类抗病毒治疗的乙型肝炎肝硬化患者417例,平均抗病毒治疗时间为(9.11±2.09)年。记录观察期内原发性肝癌发生情况。采用多元Logistics回归分析导致肝癌发生的危险因素。结果 在观察期内,本组417例乙型肝炎肝硬化患者发生原发性肝癌57例(13.7)%;肝癌组在有肝癌家族史、长期饮酒、Child-Pugh C级、未应用一线抗病毒药物、抗病毒治疗后血清HBV DNA水平仍大于20 IU/ml的比率显著高于未发生肝癌组(P<0.05);多因素Logistic分析显示存在肝癌家族史(OR=1.568,95%CI为1.074～2.289,P=0.020)、长期饮酒史(OR=1.791,95%CI为1.227～2.615,P=0.003)、Child-Pugh C级(OR=1.598,95%CI为1.095～2.333,P=0.016)、未应用一线抗病毒药物(OR=1.476,95%CI为0.997～2.168,P=0.047)和抗病毒治疗后血清HBV DNA水平仍未转阴(OR=1.480,95%CI为1.014～2.160,P=0.043)为肝癌发生的独立危险因素。结论 本研究经过长期随访观察,发现有肝癌家族史、长期饮酒、Child-Pugh分级C级、未应用一线抗病毒药物治疗和抗病毒治疗后血清HBV DNA仍大于20 IU/ml是导致乙型肝炎肝硬化患者发生肝癌的危险因素,选择一线抗病毒药物治疗、戒酒、改善肝功能状态可能减少肝癌的发生,值得认真对待。     

干扰素联合肝动脉化疗栓塞治疗HBsAg阳性的肝癌患者疗效和预后探讨

目的 探讨干扰素联合肝动脉化疗栓塞(TACE)治疗HBsAg阳性的肝细胞癌(HCC)患者疗效和预后的价值。 方法 将62例HBsAg阳性的中、晚期HCC患者随机分为干扰素α1b(IFN-α1b)联合TACE治疗组31例,TACE组31例,对两组病例HBV DNA阴转率、临床疗效及肝内肿瘤复发率及生存率进行观察比较。 结果TACE IFN治疗组31例患者中,17例(54.8％)患者治疗结束后HBV DNA阴转,而TACE组31例患者中,没有HBV DNA阴转;患者随访2年,TACE IFN治疗组1、2年的肝内复发率分别为16.1％、29.0％,明显低于TACE组38.7％、61.3％,x2值分别为3.97、6.51,P值均<0.05。而TAGE IFN治疗组1、2年的生存率分别为83.9％、74.2％,明显高于TACE组61.3％、38.7％,x2值分别为3.97,7.94,P值均<0.05。 结论 在HBsAg阳性的HCC患者TACE后,联合应用IFN治疗,可抑制乙型肝炎病毒复制,减轻介入化疗后肝脏损害,降低肝内复发率,提高患者生存率,而且不良反应少,值得推广应用。     

Intrahepatic HBV DNA as a predictor of antivirus treatment efficacy in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients

AIM: To evaluate the effect of antiviral agents on intrahepatic HBV DNA in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients. METHODS: Seventy-one patients received treatment with lamivudine, interferon alpha (IFN-alpha 2b) or sequential therapy with lamivudine-IFN-alpha 2b for 48 wk. All subjects were followed up for 24 wk. Serum and intrahepatic HBV DNA were measured quantitatively by PCR. HBV genotypes were analyzed by PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: At the end of treatment, the intrahepatic HBV DNA level in 71 patients decreased from a mean of (6.1 +/- 1.0) log10 to (4.9 +/- 1.4) log10. Further, a larger decrease was seen in the intrahepatic HBV DNA level in patients with HBeAg seroconversion. Intrahepatic HBV DNA level (before and after treatment) was not significantly affected by the patients' HBV genotype, or by the probability of virological flare after treatment. CONCLUSION: Intrahepatic HBV DNA can be effectively lowered by antiviral agents and is a significant marker for monitoring antivirus treatment. Low intrahepatic HBV DNA level may achieve better efficacy of antivirus treatment.     

化痰消脂方对慢性乙型肝炎并发非酒精性脂肪性肝病患者抗病毒治疗疗效的影响

目的观察化痰消脂方对慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）并发非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）患者干扰素抗病毒治疗疗效的影响,并探讨其相关机制。方法随机将62例患者分成治疗组和对照组,各31例。治疗组给予化痰消脂方联合干扰素治疗,对照组单用干扰素治疗,观察两组患者治疗前后HOMA-IR、HBVDNA定量、HBV-M的变化及超声显示的脂肪肝改善情况。结果治疗组患者脂肪肝改善率、病毒应答率明显高于对照组（P〈0.01或P〈0.05）,HOMA-IR明显降低（P〈0.01）。结论化痰消脂方能明显提高CHB并发NAFLD患者的抗病毒应答率,其机制可能与改善此类患者脂肪肝及胰岛素抵抗状况有关。     

Quantitative analysis of HBV cccDNA from clinical specimens: correlation with clinical and virological response during antiviral therapy

Attempts to investigate changes in various forms of intrahepatic hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA during antiviral therapy have been hampered by limitations in technologies and scarcity of adequate tissue for analysis. We used a sensitive, specific assay to detect and quantitate covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) from total intrahepatic HBV DNA in clinical liver specimens. Total HBV DNA and cccDNA from 21 needle-biopsy specimens were quantified, with levels ranging from 0.1 to 9.8 copies/cell and 0.3 to 491.0 copies/cell, respectively. Then, we performed the same determinations on baseline and week-52 liver needle-biopsy specimens from eight patients enrolled in a clinical trial and evaluated the association between intrahepatic HBV DNA levels and serological and virological endpoints. In most patients, levels of intrahepatic HBV DNA, including cccDNA, decreased over the 52-week study, regardless of therapy or serological outcome. Higher ratios of cccDNA to total HBV DNA were detected at week 52 than at baseline indicating a shift in predominance of nonreplicating virus in posttreatment specimens. In patients who achieved treatment-related or spontaneous hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) responses, including those harbouring tyrosine-methionine-aspartate-aspartate-mutant HBV, levels of intrahepatic and serum HBV DNA suppression were greater than those in patients without HBeAg responses. In conclusion, this pilot study of intrahepatic HBV replicative forms in patients with chronic hepatitis B indicated that total intrahepatic and, specifically, cccDNA levels are not static but change as a reflection of serological and virological events.     

Hepatitis B virus-specific T-cell proliferation and cytokine secretion in chronic hepatitis B e antibody-positive patients treated with ribavirin and interferon alpha

Immune elimination of hepatitis B virus (HBV) during antiviral therapy depends on the activation of T-cell responses, which are generally impaired in chronic hepatitis B. HBV-specific T helper (Th)-cell reactivity has been assessed post-treatment in liver and peripheral blood of 18 anti-HBe-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B administered combined ribavirin/interferon alfa (IFN-alpha) therapy. The results showed that patients with undetectable HBV DNA by quantitative polymerase chain reaction under combination therapy were able to mount an HBV-specific CD4(+) Th-cell proliferative response and such T-cell reactivity is detectable 1 year after HBV DNA clearance. Hepatitis B virus core (HBcAg) and e (HBeAg) antigen-specific Th-cell proliferation was found more frequently in the liver and peripheral blood in those patients who sustained the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization together with HBV DNA loss. However, HBV-specific IFN-gamma production in vitro in peripheral blood mononuclear cells augmented in 4 of 5 sustained responders and all 13 nonresponders, interleukin 10 (IL-10) production decreased in all 5 sustained responders but increased in 7 of 13 nonresponders. Furthermore, intrahepatic HBcAg plus HBeAg-specific Th-cell proliferation only occurred in sustained responders (2 of 3, 67%, vs. 0 of 9; P =.045) whose cells showed in vitro significantly increased productions in HBcAg/HBeAg-specific IFN-gamma and IL-12 compared with nonresponders in whom IFN-gamma and IL-12 productions decreased together with increased IL-10 secretion. In conclusion this study indicates that combined therapy with ribavirin and IFN-alpha for chronic hepatitis B not only significantly reduces viremia levels but also induces lasting CD4(+) T-cell proliferation and Th1 cytokine release at the site of infection, which may lead to sustained eradication of the HBV.