Serum concentration of interferon-alpha: a comparison between once-a-day and twice-a-day administration.
The aim of this study was to determine the possible mechanism of the antiviral activity of twice daily administration of interferon (IFN)-alpha for active hepatitis C and to evaluate serum concentrations of IFN-alpha with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Forty-seven patients with active hepatitis C received IFN-alpha intramuscularly for 24 weeks. They were divided into once-a-day and twice-a-day groups. Changes in serum IFN-alpha levels were assessed during the treatment period. Compared with twice-a-day treatment, the once-a-day group showed no increase in serum IFN-alpha at the end of daily treatment (p < 0.03). In contrast, one-third of the twice-a-day group showed increased IFN-alpha at the end of daily treatment (p < 0.02). In conclusion, measured with ELISA, twice-daily administration of IFN-alpha manifested prolonged elevation in serum levels when compared with once daily administration.
Matsukawa
Y
Y
Department of Internal Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Oyaguchi-Kamimachi Itabashi 173-8610, Tokyo, Japan. m-2000@sphere.ne.jp
Nishinarita
S
S
Horie
T
T
Moriyama
M
M
Tanaka
N
N
Arakawa
Y
Y
Kamei
S
S
Matsuura
M
M
Kojima
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha