Leukocyte interferon-alpha in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in Finland.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the efficacy of leukocyte interferon in previously untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C, 97 patients were enrolled in a prospective study in Finland with a stepped-care management protocol.


METHODS
The treatment was initiated with 3 million units of interferon-alpha subcutaneously three times a week. At 3 months, if the serum alanine aminotransferase was still abnormal, the dose was doubled. If serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA had turned negative at 6 months, the treatment was stopped; if it was still positive, treatment was continued for up to 12 months. All patients were followed up after treatment for 6 months. Altogether, 74 patients completed the treatment and follow-up periods.


RESULTS
Of all the originally enrolled patients 36% (35 of 97) achieved sustained virologic response, defined as HCV RNA negativity 6 months after the end of treatment. The commonest HCV genotype among these patients was 3a, and as many as 52% of such patients achieved sustained virologic response. Thirty-two per cent of the patients had HCV genotype 1a, 1b, or a mixture of these; a sustained response was achieved in only 6% of such patients but in 50% of patients with a non-1 genotype. Adverse effects caused treatment cessation for 10% of the patients and IFN dose reduction for 20%.


CONCLUSIONS
Monotherapy with human leukocyte interferon resulted in sustained virologic response in 36% of patients with chronic hepatitis C. In those infected with a HCV genotype other than 1, the sustained virologic response rate was 50%.
Ebeling
F
F
Dept. of Virology, Helsinki University Central Hospital Diagnosis/Haartman Institute, Finland.
Lappalainen
M
M
Vuoristo
M
M
Nuutinen
H
H
Leino
R
R
Karvonen
A L
AL
Lehtola
J
J
Julkunen
R
R
Pohjanpelto
P
P
Tölö
H
H
Färkkilä
M
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral