High sustained response rate and clearance of viremia in chronic hepatitis C after treatment with interferon-alpha 2b for 60 weeks.
To evaluate the effect of prolonged interferon-alpha treatment on serum aminotransferase levels and hepatitis C virus RNA in serum, 40 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection were treated with 3 MU interferon-alpha 2b thrice weekly for 60 wk. Before treatment all patients had elevated serum ALT levels for at least 1 yr, antibodies to HCV by second-generation tests and liver histological findings consistent with chronic hepatitis C. Before treatment hepatitis C virus RNA was found in serum in 39 of 40 (97.5%) patients. Normalization of ALT levels at treatment cessation was seen in 24 of 40 (60%) patients, of whom 15 of 24 (62.5%) had sustained ALT responses up to 24 wk after treatment. At follow-up, 24 wk after treatment, hepatitis C virus RNA was cleared from serum in 17 of 40 (42.5%) patients, including all sustained responders, one nonsustained responder and one nonresponder. We conclude that 60 wk of treatment with interferon-alpha 2b seems to induce a high percentage of sustained response, which coincides with cessation of viral replication.
Reichard
O
O
Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska Institute, Danderyds Hospital, Sweden.
Foberg
U
U
Frydén
A
A
Mattsson
L
L
Norkrans
G
G
Sönnerborg
A
A
Wejstål
R
R
Yun
Z B
ZB
Weiland
O
O
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014766:Viremia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase