title: A multicenter controlled, randomized, open trial of interferon alpha2b treatment of anti-human immunodeficiency virus-negative hemophilic patients with chronic hepatitis C. Hepatitis Study Group of the Association of Italian Hemophilia Centers.
abstract: There is limited information about the long-term efficacy of prolonged therapy (more than 6 months) with interferon alpha in hemophilic patients with chronic hepatitis C who are not coinfected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). One hundred and seven hemophiliacs were randomly assigned to 3 million U of interferon alpha2b three times weekly for 12 months or no therapy. The patients were followed up for at least 12 months posttreatment. Response was assessed by both serial alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA measured by reverse transcribed polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Before treatment, serum levels of HCV-RNA were measured quantitatively by second-generation branched-DNA assay and the HCV genotype was determined by RT-PCR. Serum HGV-RNA, a marker of infection with the hepatitis G virus, was also measured by RT-PCR. Normalization of ALT was sustained and serum HCV-RNA was cleared in 6 of 45 treated patients, compared with none of the 50 untreated controls (13% v 0% P < .01). Low pretreatment viremia was the only feature that was associated with an increased likelihood of sustained response (P < .01). This study shows that multitransfused hemophiliacs with chronic hepatitis C not coinfected with HIV-1 respond at low rates to prolonged interferon therapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Milan, IRCCS Maggiore Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Rumi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Santagostino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morfini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gringeri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tagariello
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chistolini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pontisso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tagger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mannucci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018067:Flaviviridae; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications*; D002836:Hemophilia B / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology / Q000628:therapy*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014842:von Willebrand Diseases / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase