title: Results of long term interferon treatment in non A non B/C chronic active hepatitis. The French Group for the study of NANB/C chronic hepatitis treatment.
abstract: One hundred and eleven patients with non-A, non-B/type C (NANB/C) chronic active hepatitis were randomly assigned to two groups to receive recombinant interferon alfa-2b treatment as follows: 3 million units (MU) interferon three times weekly for six months or 3 MU interferon three times weekly for the first six months, 2 MU for the next three months, and 1 MU for the last three months. At the end of treatment, the number who had responded completely was similar in both groups (47.2% in the six months group v 41.4% in the 12 months group). Cirrhosis was found to be the only predictive factor for response; a complete response was observed in 50.6% of patients without cirrhosis v 33.3% of those with cirrhosis (p = 0.04). After one year of treatment, the rate of relapse was lower in patients who had received longer treatment (33%) than in those who had received six months of interferon (60%). The difference between the groups was not statistically significant and the trend favouring longer treatment for sustained response requires further confirmation.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Hépatologie, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Métreau
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase