title: Interferon alpha-2b in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: early experience.
abstract: The antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of interferon were assessed in the treatment of chronic Hepatitis C in multi-ethnic patients to prevent viral replication and chronic liver damage. Three million units of recombinant interferon alpha-2b were administered three times a week for 48 weeks to a group of 9 active Hepatitis C patients. A clinical response was defined as normalization of serum ALT values. Serum was frozen and stored for Hepatitis C viral assays. Four patients normalized their liver functions. When viral levels were measured only two patients had unmeasurable levels of HCV RNA after treatment. Therapeutic results were observed and much work needs to be done to improve therapy because a serious epidemic is predicted for the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, John A Burns School of Medicine, St. Francis Medical Center University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA.
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Ching
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lumeng
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Or
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Ching
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ching
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins