title: A randomized controlled trial of interferon alfa-2b as therapy for chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis.
abstract: Eighty patients with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis completed a randomized controlled trial of the therapeutic efficacy of recombinant interferon alfa-2b. Twenty-nine received 1 million units and 26 received 3 million units of interferon subcutaneously thrice weekly for 6 months, and 25 were controls. Normalization or a significant decrease of alanine aminotransferase values was obtained in 19/29 (66%) patients treated with 1 million units, in 18/26 (69%) patients treated with 3 million units and in one control patient (4%, p less than 0.05). However, when control patients were randomized after the initial 24 weeks to receive 1 or 3 million units of interferon for 48 weeks, 12/14 (86%) patients receiving 3 million units responded to therapy versus 3/11 patients receiving 1 million units (27%, p less than 0.05). After a 1 to 6 months follow-up period post treatment, an alanine aminotransferase relapse was observed in 18/30 (60%) responders to 3 million units and in 17/22 (77%) responders to 1 million units. Cirrhotic patients responded less than patients with non-cirrhotic disease (47 vs. 78%, p less than 0.05). Only responders treated with 3 million units significantly ameliorated their histologic picture (pre-therapy Knodell's index = 8.9, post-therapy = 6.0, p less than 0.05). The data confirm that treatment with interferon is of benefit in patients with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis.
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Molinette Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Saracco
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Rosina
authors: M R
authors: MR
authors: Torrani Cerenzia
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Lattore
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Chiandussi
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Gallo
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Petrino
authors: A G
authors: AG
authors: De Micheli
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Donegani
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Solinas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase