Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with recombinant interferon alfa-2b for nine months.
This randomised, controlled trial was designed to assess the response to a nine month course of interferon (IFN) alfa-2b, starting with a higher than usual dose. Forty eight patients received IFN 5 million units (MU) three times a week for eight weeks followed by 3 MU three times weekly for seven months; 25 patients in the control group received no treatment. The overall response to treatment was 68.7%, an improvement over other studies, but the high rate of relapse (85% in patients who responded) suggested that a nine month treatment period was insufficient in most cases. Histological improvement was seen in more than 80% of responders to interferon, including a reduction in inflammatory activity, necrosis, and fibrosis.
Pérez
R
R
Gastroenterology Unit, Hospital Central de Asturias, School of Medicine, Oviedo, Spain.
Pravia
R
R
Linares
A
A
González
M
M
Rodríguez
M
M
Lombraña
J L
JL
Riestra
S
S
Suárez
A
A
Rodrigo
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase