title: Lymphoblastoid alpha-interferon for chronic hepatitis C: a randomized controlled study.
abstract: Forty patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) were included in an open randomized controlled trial of lymphoblastoid alpha-interferon (L-IFN) versus no treatment. Twenty patients entered each group, and features of therapy and control cases were similar. L-IFN was given in low doses (1.5-4.5 megaunits) for 1 yr. In 16 of 20 patients treated with L-IFN (80%), but in only one of 20 nontreated cases (0.5%; p < 0.001), amino-transferase activities became normal. In four patients there was a reactivation of the disease during treatment after 4, 5, 6, and 8 months with normal aminotransferase levels. A posttherapy reactivation of hepatitis was observed in four additional cases after 1, 1, 1, and 3 months of follow-up. The other eight patients (40%) continued with normal aminotransferase levels for 1.52 +/- 0.74 (range, 1-2.1) yr after IFN doses were discontinued. In all treated patients except two nonresponders, but in only one of 20 nontreated cases (p < 0.001), Knodell's histological activity index decreased. Procollagen type III aminoterminal peptide levels did not change significantly in nontreated and nonresponder patients, diminished slightly in patients with a transient response, and normalized in cases with a long-standing response, suggesting that this serum test may be a reliable marker for monitoring response to IFN therapy in patients with CHC. Finally, L-IFN treatment induced significant increments in CD4/CD8 index, phytohemagglutinin-induced blastogenesis, and natural killer activity. This study shows that L-IFN diminish inflammatory and fibrogenic activity in most patients with CHC. In 40% of patients treated in this trial, a long-standing remission of the disease was observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castilla
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Camps-Bansell
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Civeira
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prieto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide; D000410:Alanine Transaminase