title: [Re-treatment with interferon-alpha in chronic hepatitis B and C virus infection].
abstract: The efficacy of interferon-alpha retreatment was assessed in patients with chronic hepatitis B or C, not responding to a first cycle of interferon or reactivating thereafter. 27 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 25 patients with chronic hepatitis C were investigated. After an interval of at least 6 months these patients received an interferon-alpha retreatment in a higher dosage schedule and with a different interferon-alpha subtype. In patients with chronic hepatitis B a loss of serum HBV-DNA was observed in 59% patients after interferon-alpha retreatment. HBeAg seroconversion occurred in 8 of these patients. In chronic hepatitis C 32% of the patients responded completely to the second cycle of interferon-alpha treatment with a normalization of ALT associated with a loss of serum HCV-RNA. A partial response with a marked reduction of ALT was seen in 4 patients. In chronic hepatitis B and C a complete or partial response to the retreatment was closely associated with the response status after the first cycle. Thus, interferon retreatment seems to be effective in patients with chronic hepatitis B or C, especially in the subgroup of patients exhibiting a partial or complete response after the first interferon treatment.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Teuber
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Dienes
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Meyer zum Büschenfelde
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000628:therapy*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha
vernacular_title: Interferon-alpha-Retherapie der chronischen Hepatitis-B- und -C-Virusinfektion.