[Clinico-pathogenetic role of hormones of the pituitary-adrenal system and somatotropin in the development of immunosuppression in chronic hepatitis B and delta infection in children and the approach to its correction].

The basal level of secretion of hypophyseal (ACTH, STH) and peripheral glucocorticoid (cortisol, corticosterone) hormones as related to the immune status (lymphocyte subpopulations, serum immunoglobulins, circulating immune complexes, macrophagal component) and specific marker profiles of viruses B and delta was measured in 142 children with different forms of chronic virus hepatitis B and delta (D). The patients with chronic persistent hepatitis was characterized by the "cortisol" type response of stressor adaptation hormones in parallel with the genetically determined weak immune response, demanding no correction. The patients with chronic active hepatitis B and D demonstrated the "central" type of hormonal response with a primary increase in the content of ACTH and CTH and a moderate rise of the cortisol level, which correlated with pronounced secondary immunodeficiency of the T cell and macrophagal components of immune response. In the patients with chronic virus hepatitis B and D, the hormonal profile, as liver cirrhosis develops, is characterized by an increase in corticosterone and blood somatotropin and by a relatively low cortisol content. This reflects depletion of the mechanisms of adaptation and correlates with deep insufficiency of all the three components of immune response. The use of human leukocytic interferon and T-activin exert a well-defined effect on hormonal adaptation of immune response, promotes completion of HB-virus infection replication and the onset of a stable remission.