Circulating acid-labile interferon in chronic versus acute, HBV-related liver disease. A marker of immune-mediated hepatocellular damage?

An acid-labile Interferon was detected in the circulation of 76.1% of patients with chronic active type B hepatitis, in 30% of patients with acute type B hepatitis, studied within 15 days from starting of symptoms, and in 25% of patients with acute type B hepatitis studied 4 to 6 weeks after the admission. Patients in the third group showing evidence of circulating Interferon had also a delayed recovery and tardive HBsAg clearance. Circulating immune complexes were detected in 85.7% of patients of the first group, in 63.3% of patients of the second group, and in 25% of patients of the third group. We suggest that an acid-labile circulating Interferon could be related to immune-mediated hepatocellular damage (evidenced by circulating immune complexes) in hepatitis B virus infection, gradually disappearing during recovery from acute hepatitis or persisting indefinitely in chronic active hepatitis.