title: Interferon-alpha retreatment in chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: For chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) treatment has recently been established. However, the complete responding rate is not higher than 20-25%. The aim of our study was to assess IFN-alpha retreatment in chronic hepatitis C. In summary, during a second cycle of IFN-alpha, 60% of the patients responded to the retreatment. Indeed, a sustained complete response, together with long-lasting normal alanine aminotransferase values and negative serum HCV-RNA, was observed in about 40% of the retreated patients. Future prospective and controlled trials must define the optimal retreatment strategy, as well as the response-predicting factors including HCV genotypes and quantitative HCV-RNA levels.
authors.affiliation: I. Med. Klinik und Poliklinik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerken
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Teuber
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Goergen
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Meyer zum Büschenfelde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins