One-year treatment of chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis with interferon alfa-2b.
Thirty patients with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis (24 male, six female; median age 38 years, range: 15-68 years) were treated with recombinant interferon alfa-2b for 1 year. Treatment was started with 5 million units interferon alfa-2b daily for 2 weeks followed by 2 million units daily for another 2 weeks. Further doses were titrated according to alanine aminotransferase values. After 1 year, treatment was stopped and a follow-up biopsy was obtained. Thereafter, patients were followed for 6 months. Of the 24 patients who completed the 1-year treatment period, 14 (58%) had normal alanine aminotransferase values at the end of the study, eight of whom showed transient increases while on treatment. In another seven (29%), alanine aminotransferase levels decreased by more than 50% of pre-treatment values but remained above the normal range. Biopsies at the end of treatment showed a complete disappearance of inflammatory activity in four and a marked improvement in eleven other patients. The results of this study indicate that a 1-year treatment with recombinant interferon alfa-2b of patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis was very effective at normalizing or improving serum transaminases and liver histology. However, the overall relapse rate was 57%, with relapse occurring in a greater proportion of patients with temporary breakthroughs during therapy (requiring dosage increase), and particularly of patients with only a partial response to treatment (serum transaminases decreased by greater than or equal to 50%). Thus, further studies are needed to establish the optimal dose and duration of treatment to induce a complete resolution of the disease.
Ferenci
P
P
1st Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Vogel
W
W
Pristautz
H
H
Deimer
J
J
Denk
H
H
Judmaier
G
G
Maier
K P
KP
Krejs
G J
GJ
Gangl
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / 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*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D015415:Biomarkers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase