Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with cirrhosis with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor plus recombinant interferon-alpha.
Interferon therapy in cirrhotic patients with hepatitis C virus infection is not efficient. In an attempt to improve the response rate, a pilot study using recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) alone, and in combination with recombinant interferon-alpha (rIFN), was carried out. Fifteen cirrhotic patients with hepatitis C virus infection were randomly allocated into 3 groups to receive treatment: 0.5, 1, or 1.5 micrograms/kg of rhG-CSF daily for 4 weeks, followed by a 4 week resting period, and by the same dose of rhG-CSF daily, plus 6 MU of rIFN 3 times weekly for 4 weeks. They then continued to receive 6 MU of rIFN alone for 4 weeks, followed by 3 MU of rIFN for 16 weeks. After the 4 weeks of treatment with rhG-CSF alone, no changes in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were observed. No changes occurred during the resting period. Three of 10 patients who ended the rhG-CSF plus rIFN treatment period had normal ALT values. During the treatment with rIFN alone, two responders suffered a relapse. The other responder had normal ALT until the first month of follow-up. In summary, the combination of rhG-CSF and rIFN seems promising for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C and liver cirrhosis.
Pardo
M
M
Hepatology Unit, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
Castillo
I
I
Navas
S
S
Carreño
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D007370:Interferon Type I; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000410:Alanine Transaminase