Sequential interferon-alpha and beta treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
To assess the effectiveness and side effects of sequential interferon (IFN)-alpha and beta treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C, 25 patients were enrolled in a trial of this regimen. The patients were given 6 million units (MU) of natural human INF-beta daily for 2 weeks followed by 6 MU of natural human IFN-alpha three times a week for 10 to 22 weeks. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels normalized for at least 24 weeks in 10 patients (40%), of whom 4 (40%) had no detectable serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA. Three variables were significant in predicting a sustained response: a low serum HCV RNA level, a low Knodell's fibrosis score, and a low indocyanine green retention rate at 15 minutes. Elevated serum ALT and proteinurea were observed with IFN-beta treatment but these side effects were mild and disappeared when INF-beta treatment ended. While all patients completed the entire regimen, we concluded that sequential IFN-alpha and beta treatment provides no additional antiviral effects in chronic hepatitis C.
Miyajima
I
I
Second Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan.
Sata
M
M
Uchimura
Y
Y
Ide
T
T
Suzuki
H
H
Tanikawa
K
K
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000410:Alanine Transaminase