title: Anti-alpha interferon antibodies after alpha interferon treatment in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.
abstract: Thirty-five patients with chronic viral hepatitis (B, D or non A, non B), treated with alpha interferon were evaluated by a highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay for the presence of alpha interferon neutralizing antibodies before and after three months of treatment. Although 4 subjects (11.4%) became immunized against alpha interferon, treatment with the drug was successful in inhibiting viral replication in 3 of them. We conclude that the appearance of anti alpha interferon antibodies does not affect the effectiveness of the drug, and is therefore not worth monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Gastroenterologia, Clinica Medica R, University of Palermo.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Craxi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Marco
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Volpes
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Palazzo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007370:Interferon Type I; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins