title: Effective administration methods and dosages of interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: The efficacy of interferon alfa (IFN-alpha) was evaluated in 127 hepatitis C virus-ribonucleic acid (HCV-RNA)-positive patients with chronic hepatitis C in relation to HCV-RNA levels and genotype. Patients were assigned to one of three groups. Patients in group A received IFN-alpha daily for 8 weeks (total dose, 336 million units [MU]); patients in group B received IFN-alpha daily for 4 weeks and then intermittently for 20 weeks (total dose, 348 MU); and patients in group C received IFN-alpha daily for 2 weeks and then intermittently for 22 weeks (total dose, 480 MU). Complete response rates in groups B and C were significantly higher than those in group A, regardless of the virus level or genotype. Complete response rates in groups B and C were similar, but in patients with a high virus level or HCV-RNA genotype II, the partial response rate in group C was significantly higher than that in group B. In conclusion, IFN-alpha was more effective after daily and then intermittent administration than after daily administration only, and a higher daily dose was necessary to be more effective in patients with high virus levels or HCV-RNA genotype II.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Shin-Kokura Hospital, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hisano
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shiraishi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higashi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kashiwagi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral