[Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with lymphoblastic interferon. Long-term follow-up].
OBJECTIVE
A randomized controlled trial was set up to assess the effect of two different therapy regimens with lymphoblastoid interferon on the treatment and follow-up of patients with chronic C hepatitis.


METHODS
Eighty-five patients with chronic hepatitis C were randomized into two treatment groups (n = 30 respectively) and one control group (no treatment: n = 25). In one treatment group patients received three million units of alpha-lymphoblastoid interferon. The other received six million units.


RESULTS
A rapid decline in both alanine aminotransferase and aspartataminotransferase levels was seen in most treated patients (a complete response in 51% from group A and 55% from group B; partial response 29% from group A, 25% from group B). In five partial responders and six complete responders from group A and in seven partial responders and six complete responders in group B serum aminotransferase levels returned to baseline values in the follow-up. No change in serum bilirubin, albumin, IgG and prothrombin time during interferon treatment were seen. The histologic staging remained unchanged throughout the entire study.


CONCLUSIONS
alpha-interferon treatment improves the clinical picture, biochemical parameters and histologic pattern in a large percentage of patients with hepatitis C. Long-term remission was seen in only 37% of treated patients. Using six million units of alpha-interferon has not proven to be significantly better than three million units. Protracted treatment for nine months seems to increase the percentage of patients in biochemical and histologic remission.
Passariello
N
N
Institut de Médecine générale, de Thérapie et des Maladies métaboliques, Ecole de Médecine et de Chirurgie de la seconde Université de Naples, Italie.
Sepe
J
J
Peluso
A
A
Carlino
F
F
Guglielmelli
V
V
Esposito
P
P
Rossiello
R
R
d'Onofrio
F
F
Sgambato
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
Traitement par l'interféron lymphoblastique humain de l'hépatite virale C chronique. Suivi à distance.