Treatment with recombinant alpha-interferon of chronic hepatitis C in anti-HIV-positive patients.
A pilot study of chronic hepatitis C treatment was conducted in 14 patients (13 had chronic active hepatitis and 1 had liver cirrhosis). All patients were asymptomatic for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 (mean CD4 count of 584 +/- 283 cells/mm3). Patients received 9 MU rIFN-alpha 2A per day for three months. After this, patients received 9 MU three times weekly for three months, 6 MU for another three months on the same protocol, and finally 3 MU again three times weekly for the last three months. After the first month of ALT treatment in 9 patients (64%) returned to normal; a significant decrease in ALT levels was observed with respect to the pretreatment values (mean of 42 IU/l, range 15-75 vs 152 IU/l, range 69-355; P < 0.01). Of the 9 patients who completed the treatment period, 5 had a complete response, and 4 of these 5 continued with normal ALT values during follow-up (sustained response) while the other patient relapsed within one month after cessation of therapy. The remaining 4 patients were non-responders (including one case with a break-through of the response). HCV-RNA was not detectable in 3 of the 5 responders at the end of therapy while during follow-up viral RNA became undetectable in the other 2 patients. 2/4 non-responder patients had detectable HCV-RNA during follow-up. Liver histology improved in all the patients. No changes were observed in the immunological status or HIV infection.
Marriott
E
E
Department of Gastroenterology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
Navas
S
S
del Romero
J
J
García
S
S
Castillo
I
I
Quiroga
J A
JA
Carreño
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000187:drug effects; D001483:Base Sequence; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D004279:DNA, Viral; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase