title: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of eight-week course of recombinant alpha-interferon for chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis.
abstract: Forty-nine Japanese patients were enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of alpha-interferon for chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis: 24 patients received 3 million units of recombinant human alpha alpha-interferon (alpha-2a) thrice weekly for eight weeks, and 25 patients received placebo in a similar schedule. The mean serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) dropped from 155 +/- 91 (SD) to 69 +/- 72 during interferon treatment, but remained unchanged (158 +/- 140 to 147 +/- 130) during placebo treatment (P less than 0.001). Serum ALT level fell to the normal range in 29% of interferon-treated patients, but in only 4% of placebo-treated patients. Pre- and posttreatment liver biopsies were obtained in all but one case. Average histological activity indices (HAI) were markedly improved in the interferon-treated group (9.5 +/- 3.7 to 7.0 +/- 4.3), but were unchanged in the placebo group (8.5 +/- 4.3 to 8.5 +/- 4.9). In addition, we compared the efficacy of interferon treatment between anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody positive and negative groups. Biochemical and histological improvements were similar and statistically significant in patients with and without antibody to hepatitis C virus. These data indicate that a eight-week course of alpha-interferon induces biochemical and histological improvement in more than half the patients with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, Chiba University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Omata
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yokosuka
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Imazeki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tagawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hosoda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase