Interferon-alpha 2b therapy in low-activity hepatitis C: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Many patients with chronic hepatitis C have long periods of normal or near-normal liver enzyme levels, even though histologic alterations have been confirmed. The recommendation today is not to treat this patient group.


METHODS
In a pilot study 23 hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA-positive patients with alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) levels less than 1.5 times upper normal limits for at least 6 months on more than three occasions and with histologic liver abnormalities compatible with chronic hepatitis C were treated with 3 MU of interferon-alpha 2b three times a week for 6 months.


RESULTS
Nine patients (39%) became HCV RNA-negative in serum during treatment, but only two (8.7%) remained so after 6 months' follow-up. Significantly more patients with genotype other than type 1 became HCV RNA-negative than patients with genotype 1 during treatment (P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with low-activity chronic hepatitis C have a response to interferon-alpha treatment similar to that of patients with increased ALAT levels. Genotype seems to influence the rate of response.
Nordøy
I
I
Medical Dept. A, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
Krarup
H B
HB
Bell
H
H
Christensen
P B
PB
Elgjo
K
K
von der Lippe
B
B
De Muckadell
O S
OS
Maeland
A
A
Ring-Larsen
H
H
Samdal
H H
HH
Simmonds
P
P
Skaug
K
K
Tage-Jensen
U
U
Schrumpf
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase