Recombinant interferon-alpha-2a for treatment of chronic hepatitis C: results of a multicenter randomized controlled dose study.
To compare the efficacy of low and relatively high dosages of recombinant interferon (IFN)-alpha-2a in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C, as well as to characterize the type of patients who will respond well to a low-dosage treatment, 88 patients with histologically proven chronic hepatitis C were randomly assigned to two treatment groups; one treated with IFN-alpha-2a 6 MU daily for 2 weeks followed by 6 MU three times weekly for 22 weeks (6-MU group), and another given the same initial treatment followed by 3 MU three times weekly for 22 weeks (3-MU group). The rate of sustained normalization of ALT 6 months after the cessation of treatment was 33% in the 3-MU group and 40% in the 6-MU group (p = 0.64). In addition, there was no difference in elimination of serum HCV-RNA 6 months after the cessation of treatment between the 3-MU group (26%) and 6-MU group (29%). Multivariate stepwise regression analysis revealed that serum HCV-RNA level (p = 0.0035) and platelet count (p = 0.0009) were independent variables useful in predicting a sustained response of ALT. The sustained response rate of ALT in patients with a serum HCV-RNA level less than 10(5) copies/ml and serum platelet level above 15 x 10(4)/microliter was 71%, whereas that in patients with a serum HCV-RNA level above 10(5) copies/ml and serum platelet level less than 15 x 10(4)/microliter was 12%. These results indicate that a high rate of sustained response to IFN therapy can be expected in chronic hepatitis C patients with a low serum level of HCV-RNA and a high level of platelets, even if treated with a low dose of IFN.
Imai
Y
Y
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Kawata
S
S
Tamura
S
S
Ito
N
N
Seki
K
K
Nishiuchi
M
M
Shinji
Y
Y
Kiriyama
K
K
Himeno
S
S
Minami
Y
Y
Kashihara
T
T
Kawakami
F
F
Maeda
H
H
Yabuuchi
I
I
Nishioka
M
M
Shirai
Y
Y
Fukuda
K
K
Kiso
S
S
Ito
T
T
Igura
T
T
Doi
Y
Y
Matsuzawa
Y
Y
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007564:Japan; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins