Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with high-dose interferon alpha-2b. A multicenter study.
A comparative study of three different high-dose regimens of interferon-alpha-2b (IFN) was conducted in patients with chronic hepatitis C to determine which was better at obtaining a sustained remission. A total of 126 patients were assigned randomly to one of three groups: group A was given 10 million international units (MIU) of IFN six times a week for eight weeks; group B was given 10 MIU IFN six times a week for four weeks followed by three times a week for an additional eight weeks; group C was given 10 MIU IFN six times a week for two weeks followed by three times a week for 12 weeks. The total dose administered to each group was 480 MIU/patient. Only the dosing schedule varied among the three groups. Among 98 efficacy-evaluable patients, a sustained alanine aminotransferase (ALT) response, defined as persistent normalization of the ALT for greater than six months after the termination of treatment, was achieved in 21.2% (7/33) of group A, 42.3% (11/26) of group B, and 54.5% (18/33) of group C patients. Similarly, a sustained loss of measurable serum hepatitis C virus RNA was observed in 28.6% (8/28) of group A, 40.9% (9/22) of group B, and 48.3% (14/29) of group C patients. Based upon these data, it can be concluded that 10 MIU of IFN administered six days a week for two weeks followed by three times a week for an additional 12 weeks produces the highest rate of both biochemical and virological responses to IFN therapy in patients with chronic HCV.
Iino
S
S
Institute of Medical Science, St. Marianna University Medical School, Kawasaki, Japan.
Hino
K
K
Kuroki
T
T
Suzuki
H
H
Yamamoto
S
S
D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase / Q000097:blood; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D000906:Antibodies; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase