Intramuscular beta interferon for chronic hepatitis C: is it worth trying?
OBJECTIVE
The intramuscular use of beta interferon has been tested in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, but it did not prove effective when the schedule was 3 million units three times a week for six months. Since the lack of effectiveness of this treatment might be due to the low bioavailability of beta interferon when administered intramuscularly, we tested a higher dosage of the drug: 6 million units three times a week for twelve months.


METHODS
Ninety-two patients were randomized to receive, intramuscularly, either 3 or 6 million units of natural human fibroblast beta interferon three times a week for 12 months.


RESULTS
The short-term biochemical response was significantly more frequent in the group of patients who received the higher dosage of beta interferon: 21% vs 4.5% (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, a sustained biochemical response was obtained in only one patient (2%), who received the higher dosage of beta interferon.


CONCLUSIONS
Since the better short-term response rate was obtained with the higher dosage of beta interferon, a further increase in the dosage might improve the short-term and, possibly, the long-term response to treatment. However, due to the high cost of beta interferon, this high-dose schedule would probably not be cost-effective in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
Fesce
E
E
Niguarda Cà Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Airoldi
A
A
Mondazzi
L
L
Maggi
G
G
Gubertini
G
G
Bernasconi
G
G
Del Poggio
P
P
Bozzetti
F
F
Idéo
G
G
D000328:Adult; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016899:Interferon-beta