title: Interferon alpha-2b treatment of chronic posttransfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis: interim results of a randomized controlled open study.
abstract: 32 patients with biopsy-proven chronic non-A, non-B posttransfusion hepatitis and raised aminotransferase levels since more than 1 year were randomized 2:1 to treatment with interferon alpha-2b, Introna, or to controls. The interferon group received 3 MU interferon 3 times weekly subcutaneously. Interim results 12 weeks after randomization showed that 14/21 (67%) patients in the treatment group had normalized their serum alanine aminotransferase levels whereas none of 11 patients in the control group had (p less than 0.001). If interferon alpha-2b is only suppressive during ongoing therapy or curative will be shown later during continued follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska Institute, Roslagstull Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Weiland
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schvarcz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wejstål
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Norkrans
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Foberg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frydén
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase