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.
Institute of Medical Science, St. Marianna University Medical School, Kawasaki, Japan.
S
S
Iino
K
K
Hino
T
T
Kuroki
H
H
Suzuki
S
S
Yamamoto
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