title: [How many patients with chronic viral hepatitis qualify for interferon therapy? Prospective analysis of university ambulatory care].
abstract: How many patients with chronic viral hepatitis are suitable for interferon therapy? A prospective analysis of a university out-patient department. The present study prospectively analyzes 273 consecutive patients admitted to the outpatient-hepatology clinic for interferon therapy of chronic viral hepatitis from 1989 to 1991. 149/273 (54.6%) patients suffered from hepatitis-B viral infection (HBV). Of the 107 patients with NANB-hepatitis (39.2%) 103 patients finally proved to have hepatitis-C viral infection (HCV) (96.3%). In 17/273 patients (6.2%) the outside diagnosis of viral hepatitis was wrong. The percentage of men versus women was significantly greater in HBV (71.8% vs. 28.2%) than in HCV infection (52.4% vs. 47.5%) (p < 0.01; c2-test). The admittance of patients increased from 68 patients in 1989 to 88 patients in 1990 and 117 patients in 1991. The percentage of HCV-patients increased from 26.4% in 1989 to 38.6% in 1990 and 43.6% in 1991. The number of patients with HCV-infection admitted by non-university hospitals versus practitioners and internists was significantly greater in HCV-infection (48.5% vs. 51.5%) compared to HBV-infection (hospitals: 36.9%; practitioners: 63.1%) (p < 0.05). Interferon therapy was initiated in 131/252 patients (52%) with HBV- or HCV-infection. HCV-patients were treated with interferon significantly more frequently (59.2%) compared with HBV-patients (46.9%) (p = 0.05). Since interferon therapy was initiated in only about 50% of HBV- and HCV-patients, the selection criteria for such treatment need to be publicized more effectively. The marked increase in patients with HCV-infection suggests that recent improvements in serology of viral hepatitis are widely and appropriately used in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Abteilung für Gastroenterologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Niederau
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heintges
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niederau
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stremmel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Strohmeyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha
vernacular_title: Wie viele Patienten mit chronischer Virushepatitis kommen für eine Interferontherapie in Betracht? Prospektive Analyse einer Universitätsambulanz.