Prevention of relapse in patients with chronic non-A, non-B/C hepatitis who respond to alpha-interferon. A controlled multicenter trial of low-dose maintenance therapy. Groupe d'Etude Multicentrique de l'Interféron dans les Hépatites.
We tested the efficacy of maintenance treatment with alpha-2a interferon, 1 megaunit thrice weekly for 6 months, in preventing relapse of non-A, non-B/C hepatitis in remission after treatment with alpha interferon given thrice weekly according to the following dose schedule: 3 megaunits for 3 months, 2 megaunits for 2 months and 1 megaunit for 1 month. Fifty-three patients with hepatitis C in remission were randomly allocated to a treatment group (n = 26) or a control group (n = 27). A relapse (aminotransferase activity > 1.5 times the upper limit of normal) occurred in 46% of the controls and 35% of the treated patients (NS). Maintenance treatment had no significant influence on histopathologic changes evaluated by three independent observers: in both groups the overall score for histologic lesions improved between the initiation of interferon therapy and the end of the study. We conclude that relapses in patients with non-A, non-B/C hepatitis in remission after treatment with alpha interferon at tapering doses are not prevented by maintenance therapy with low-dose alpha interferon. Journal of Hepatology.
Valla
D
D
Department of Hepato-gastro-enterology, Groupe Hopsitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Babany
G
G
Ouzan
D
D
Trépo
C
C
Bourlière
M
M
Calès
P
P
Payen
J L
JL
Couzigou
P
P
Buffet
C
C
Michel
P
P
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase