The authors investigated 24 patients with chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus. HBeAg-positive patients had significantly (alpha = 0.05) more frequently pathological initial values of biochemical and immunological indicators, as compared with anti-HBe-positive patients. Delta antigen in the liver and anti-delta antibodies in serum if examined, were always negative. All patients were subjected to 16-week treatment with Essentiale forte (Natterman). After treatment and after the subsequent 16 weeks in none of the patients loss of HBsAg or seroconversion of HBeAg-positive to anti-HBe-positive was recorded. In the sub-group of HBeAg-positive subjects after treatment a significant drop of gamma-globulins and circulating immunocomplexes occurred, in the sub-group of anti-HBe-positive subjects a significant rise of active and total T-lymphocytes was found. The authors recommend to test Essentiale forte in the prevention and treatment of immunocomplex disease in chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus.

Keywords: Adult; Aged; Chronic Disease; Female; Hepatitis B /blood/; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Phosphatidylcholines /therapeutic use/