title: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor as adjuvant therapy for factor as adjuvant therapy for interferon alpha treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: The safety and efficacy of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as adjuvant therapy for interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) treatment has been evaluated in 20 non-cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Adjuvant therapy with GM-CSF plus IFN-alpha was associated with less myelosuppression than with IFN-alpha alone (P < .01), although the rate of local adverse reactions increased. GM-CSF adjuvant therapy led to a 50% biochemical response (transaminase values within the normal range at therapy end) and to reductions in HCV RNA concentrations (median HCV RNA reduction of 99%, range 8-100%), which were similarly observed in single IFN-alpha recipients (median HCV RNA reduction of 91%, range 38-100%). However, HCV RNA became undetectable in three biochemical responders to the GM-CSF adjuvant therapy, but in only one biochemical non-responder to IFN-alpha alone. The use of GM-CSF as adjuvant therapy is safe and, although it has not improved the biochemical response, it might potentiate the virologic response to IFN-alpha treatment alone.
authors.affiliation: Hepatology Unit, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carreno
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Navas
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Quiroga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor