A randomized controlled open study of interferon alpha-2b treatment of chronic non-A, non-B posttransfusion hepatitis: no correlation of outcome to presence of hepatitis C virus antibodies.
33 patients with biopsy-proven chronic non-A, non-B posttransfusion hepatitis (NANB PTH) were randomized 2:1 to treatment with interferon alpha-2b (Introna) or to controls. The treatment group received 3 MU interferon 3 times weekly subcutaneously for 36 weeks. 22/33 (67%) patients were reactive for antibodies against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). 11/19 (58%) treated patients versus none of the 12 controls had a complete response with normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase levels (p less than 0.001). Another 4/29 (21%) treated patients had a partial response which was also seen in 4/12 (33%) controls; 4 treated patients were nonresponders, all with chronic active hepatitis. Nonresponders had a significantly higher mean weight than responders (p less than 0.05) and tended to have a longer duration of their disease before therapy. During the 6-month follow-up period post treatment 4/11 (36%) complete responders had a sustained response and 7/11 (64%) relapsed. All who were retreated responded again. We conclude that a majority of patients with chronic NANB PTH will respond to 9 months interferon alpha-2b treatment, but that only 1 out of 3 will have a sustained response 6 months post treatment, and that the reactivity for anti-HCV was not correlated to the outcome of therapy.
Schvarcz
R
R
Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska Institute, Roslagstull Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Weiland
O
O
Wejstål
R
R
Norkrans
G
G
Frydén
A
A
Foberg
U
U
D000328:Adult; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D007370:Interferon Type I; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins