title: Comparison of treatment with two different doses of leukocyte interferon alpha in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was carried in order to investigate whether human leukocyte interferon-alpha administered for 12 months at two different dosages, improves long-term responses in chronic hepatitis C and to see whether pre-treatment gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase values help to predict the clinical response to Interferon.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five patients were treated for 12 months with natural Interferon-alpha: 3 MU (group A: 31 cases); 6 MU (group B: 14 cases). Biochemical and virological responses were monitored during treatment and follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alanine aminotransferase was normalized in 58.1% (Group A) and 54.5% (Group B) of patients by the end of the treatment. Due to side effects 3 patients had to discontinue treatment. During follow-up, remission was maintained in 30.8% and 45.4% of patients respectively (p = 0.046). After 12 months of therapy, respectively 46.7% and 45.4% of patients with complete biochemical response, cleared virus from serum, as did, among long-term responders, 3/8 and 3/4 evaluated patients. Independently of dosage, a complete response was found more often in patients with normal pre-treatment gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase than in those with pre-treatment abnormal values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High dosage of IFN alpha was associated with a significantly greater rate of sustained biochemical response and with a better chance of viremia becoming negative. Pre-treatment gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was able to predict the outcome of the treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases. University La Sapienza Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Laghi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Toccaceli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Foglianti
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Canova
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Palazzini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase