The Effect Of Adefovir Dipivoxil Therapy On T Helper Cells Associated Cytokines In Patients With Hepatitis B E Antigen-Positive Chronic Hepatitis B

BACKGROUND Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects over 350 million people worldwide and over 1 million die of HBV-related chronic liver disease annually. Chronic HBV infection is a major health threat and the main cause of end-stage liver disease in our country.The host immune response plays a pivotal role in HBV-related liver disease.The natural course of chronic HBV infection is now perceived as consisting of 4 phases: immune tolerance, immune clearance [hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis], inactive carrier state, and reactivation (HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B) .The HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is now increasing worldwide but the HBeAg positive CHB remains the major type in our country.Cytokines play an important role in the defence against viral infections.T-helper (Th) cells are in the center of anti-HBV immunity.Th1 type cytokines include IL-2, IFN- γ and TNFα, and exert an important role in anti-virus immunity; Th2 type cytokines include IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13 and largely participate in humoral immunity. Activity of CHB is associated with the imbalance of cellular immunity.The imbalance of Th cytokine production may play an important role in immunopathogenesis of persistent HBV infection.Accumulating evidence indicates that antiviral therapy can prevent...