[Therapy of chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis with interferon alfa-2B. A controlled clinical study and long-term follow-up].
In order to assess the efficacy of alpha-2b interferon (r-IFN) in the treatment of non-A non-B chronic hepatitis, 30 patients were randomised to receive r-IFN (3 MU subcutaneously three times a week for 24 weeks) or no therapy. A total of 21 males and 9 females, aged between 24-66 years old and who had had increased transaminase levels for at least one year, were included in the study. Three patients were ex-drug addicts and 6 had received blood transfusions whereas the cause of the infection in the remaining 21 patients was unknown. Hepatic biopsies performed prior to the study revealed persistent chronic hepatitis in 7 patients, active chronic hepatitis (ACH) in 19 patients and ACH with hepatic cirrhosis in 4 patients. Anti-HCV antibodies were present in 21 patients (70%). Transaminase values returned to normal in 11 (73%) of the 15 patients treated and remained unchanged in controls after 6 months of therapy. During the 18-month follow-up following the suspension of r-IFN treatment, transaminase values rose again to pre-treatment levels in 4 patients. Anti-HCV antibodies did not disappear in any of the patients who responded to therapy.
Giudici-Cipriani
A
A
5 USL Finalese Ospedale, Santa Corona-Pietra Ligure, Savona.
Rainisio
C
C
Ponassi
I
I
Rattenni
S
S
Imberciadori
G
G
Cavagnaro
G
G
Marenco
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
Terapia dell'epatite cronica non-A non-B con alfa-2b interferone. Studio clinico controllato e follow-up a lungo termine.