A renal transplant patient developed symptomatic hepatitis after withdrawal from corticosteroids. Tests for hepatitis B e antigen and hepatitis B viral DNA were both positive prior to treatment with 1 million units alpha interferon three times weekly for 3 weeks followed by an increase to 3 million units alpha interferon three times weekly for a total of 16 weeks. At the end of treatment, hepatitis had clinically resolved with conversion to a hepatitis B e antibody positive and hepatitis B e antigen and viral DNA negative state. The renal allograft function remained excellent throughout the course of therapy with interferon.
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