The effect of interferon therapy on erythrocyte membrane Na, K ATP activity in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C virus infections

In order to evaluate the effect of alpha interferon on erythrocyte membrane Na+, K+ ATPase (EC 3.6.1.37) activity, 10 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and 8 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were investigated. Erythrocyte membrane Na+, K+ ATPase activity was determined in controls and in patients with HBV and HCV infection. Na+, K+ ATPase activity was significantly less in untreated patients with (HBV) infection (n=20; 0,134±0,073 μmol of phosphate produced per milligram of protein per hour) and (HCV) infection (n=11; 0,144±0,049) when compared to the controls (n=10; 0,219±0,055). Among these subjects patients were treated with interferon and following treatment, significant elevation of Na+, K ATPase activity was seen in patients with HCV (n=8; 0,183±0,044; P=0,049) and HBV (n=10, 0,213±0,095, P=0,0069) infections when compared with the pre‐treatment values (n=8; 0,152±0,050) and (n=10, 0,131±0,083), respectively. Normalization of serum alanin amino transferase levels (ALT) at treatment cessation was seen in 8 of 10 (%80) HBV infected patients of whom 2 of 8 (%25) had sustained ALT responses within three months after the end of treatment. In HCV infected patients 1 of 8 (%12,5) had sustained response following treatment. At the end of treatment, although Na+, K+ ATPase was restored in both of the patients groups, relative changes in enzyme activity in relation to relative reduction in ALT levels as a response to IFN therapy were not correlated.