title: Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with recombinant interferon alfa-2b for nine months.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, Hospital Central de Asturias, School of Medicine, Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pravia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Linares
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lombraña
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riestra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suárez
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodrigo
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase