Hepatitis with Prostate ,Gallbladder ,Arteriosclerosis diseases

  
    My father has suffered from chronic hepatitis
  for about 30 years(now he is 54 years old), but
  at the head of this year(1998), he got ill again
  because of overworking. Now he always feels tired
  and has got icterus twice during last two months.
  I propagate the hospital examination here, hoping
  to get help and valuable advice from exports and
  those who have such experience.
  Here are my father's hospital examination results:
  Test Date: Feb 29th,1998
  ------------------------------------------------------
  HBsAg + 17.4
  Anti-HBC +92%
  Anti-HBC IgM -
  HBsAg/IgM +2.3
  HBeAg -
  Anti-HBe +83%
  Anti-HBS -
  ALT 56H U/L
  AST 79H U/L
  GLB 37H G/L
  DBIL 9.4H umol/L
  TP 80.6H G/L
  HBV-DNA(By PCR method) +
  ||Is this item very dangerous?
  He also suffers other diseases:
  1.Prostate calcified for years;
  2.Gallbladder filled completely with stones for 3 years;
  3.Arteriosclerosis for several years(not very serious).
  --------------------------------------------------------
  I have questions to solve:
  How does "interferon alpha-2" effect? Some docters here say
  that it is effective,but some say it is dangerous.
  Please tell me some details of this medicine if possible.
  for example,statistics in US.
  Is there effective and little side effect medicine
  for my father?What is it name?(And where can I get it?)
  If it is convenient,please email me,I just have some
  difficulty connecting to internet.
  Anything you do will be great support for my family.
  Thank you very much.
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  | My email address:          |
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______________________
Dear Yang,
Thank you for your letter.  It is quite possible that your father acquired his Hepatitis B infection at his birth, especially if the family is from Asia.
I share your concern for your father's health.  Your father's history is suggestive of chronic liver disease due to Hepatitis B infection.  The HBV-DNA PCR positivity is evidence for active virus replication in your father's liver.  This infection leads to injury and death of individual liver cells.  Ultimately, patients may develop cirrhosis (see below), liver failure and in some people liver cancer.  
For your father, there is indirect evidence that the extent of damage is quite substantial.  The jaundice suggests that many cells may have been destroyed.  Your father's total protein (TP) is normal. I would bet, however, that his serum albumin is reduced, additional indirect evidence that he may have cirrhosis, a condition in which there is significant scarring of the liver due to cell destruction.  A protime test, a measure of clotting function would be very important.  If this value is increased we would have even more laboratory data to support severe liver damage.
A liver biopsy is needed to assess the extent of liver damage and to exclude other  (although unlikely) possible explanations for the liver disease.  I am concerned, however, that a liver biopsy may not be possible if his protime is too high.  With a high protime the risk of bleeding from the liver biopsy increases substantially.
Interferon treatment will stop virus growth in the liver in about 1/3 patients who are treated.  Chinese patients (based on when they acquire infection) may have a lower response rate but this is a controversial point in the literature. At present, there is insufficient published literature to know if interferon treatment prevents the complications of liver failure.  As your physicians have told you the side effects of interferon treatment can be quite uncomfortable.  Most people taking interferon develop flu-like symptoms (fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache) with each injection.  Psychological depression, suppression of bone marrow activity and thyroid disease are also possible complications of interferon treatment.
I suggest that your father be evaluated as soon as possible by a hepatologist, a specialist in liver diseases.   This physician will determine the extent of liver damage and exclude any possible complications of long-term Hepatitis B infection.  This evaluation should be done as soon as possible for your reassurance.  Our hepatologists Dr. Brown or Dr. Moonka would be happy to see your father and arrange for all the necessary tests as well provide you detailed information regarding possible therapies.  An appointment can be arranged by calling our Liver Service at Henry Ford Hospital [phone].
This response is being provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation.  Always check with your personal physician when you have a question pertaining to your health.
HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: hepatitis, Hepatitis B virus, cirrhosis, interferon
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