title: Interferon-alpha 2b therapy in low-activity hepatitis C: a pilot study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Medical Dept. A, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nordøy
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Krarup
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Elgjo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: von der Lippe
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: De Muckadell
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maeland
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ring-Larsen
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Samdal
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simmonds
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Skaug
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tage-Jensen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schrumpf
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase