title: Long-term therapy with interferon in anti-HCV positive chronic hepatitis: is it conceivable?
abstract: HCV positive hepatitis possesses a relevant social impact as regards national health costs. On the other hand, interferon (IFN) therapy represents to date the best therapeutic approach to this problem. However, several clinical questions have arisen regarding the efficacy and safety of long-term treatments, and above all the management of those patients who did not respond to acute therapy. Nevertheless, it is well known there is a high rate of relapse after the cessation of treatment. The goal of the present paper has therefore been to verify both efficacy and safety of a weekly single dose of IFN in maintaining an adequate remission rate in 38 outpatients who obtained a good response (either type I or II according to Marcellin's classification) to a 12 months' IFN course. Our results evidenced that a maintenance therapy with a single a weekly dose of IFN (3MU) did not seem to lead to a lower rate of relapses when compared to patients who were not given any treatment.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Gastroenterologia ed Endoscopia Digestiva Ospedale S. Martino, Genova.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perasso
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Testino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sumberaz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ansaldi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D007372:Interferons; D000410:Alanine Transaminase