The aim of present study was the assessment of prognostic value of anti-HBcIgM antibodies index in the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy of interferon alpha (IFN &alfa;) in children with chronic hepatitis B. 45 patients with histopathologically diagnosed hepatitis B were qualified to treatment with IFN alfa; HBV DNA polymerase persisting in blood serum for more than 6 months. IFN alfa was used in a dose of 3 MU 3 times a day subcutaneusly for 20 weeks. After analysis of 2 subgroups of children: one consisting of 21 children with HBeAg/anti-HBe seroconversion and second consisting of 24 children without seroconversion, it was found after 6 months of treatment that the initial anti-HBcIgM index was higher in the group of children responding to the therapy (mean 0.575) than in the group of children with no response to the treatment (mean 0.313). The difference is statistically significant (p<0.005).
Conclusions: high value of anti-HbcIgM index before starting the treatment with IFN alfa is prognostic factor of the occurrence of HBeAg/anti-HBe seroconversion in children with chronic hepatitis B treated with that cytokin.

Keywords: chronic hepatitis B, interferon alpha, anti-HBcIgM, children