A meta-analysis of interferon-alpha treatment of hepatitis D virus infection.
The severity of chronic hepatitis D infection and its unfavorable progress necessiate research into drugs and protocols capable of changing the natural history of the disease. Over the last few years interferon (IFN)-alpha has been the drug of choice in the management of this infection. We assessed its long-term efficacy by analyzing 5 controlled and 10 uncontrolled trials conducted between 1987 and 1994. The Mantel-Haenszel-Peto method was used in the former to perform statistical analysis. The odds ratio (0.16, confidence interval 0.058-0.476) confirmed the efficacy of IFN-alpha, even if the coefficient was not significant because of the limited number of spontaneous remissions in the trials. Although IFN treatment is fully beneficial in only a small number of patients with chronic hepatitis D infection, at present it is the only available agent.
Malaguarnera
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Catania, Italy.
Restuccia
S
S
Pistone
G
G
Ruello
P
P
Giugno
I
I
Trovato
B A
BA
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha