title: Rapid decrease of plasma HCV RNA in early phase of twice daily administration of 3 MU doses interferon-beta in patients with genotype 1b hepatitis C infection: a multicenter randomized study.
abstract: Virological response to interferon (IFN) is poor in patients with plasma levels of HCV RNA higher than 1 Meq/ml and genotype 1b hepatitis C viral infection. In 60 patients, a randomized control study was conducted to compare 3 MU of IFN-beta twice daily for four weeks (group A) and 6 MU once a day for four weeks (group B) followed by a four-week administration of 6 MU once a day. The plasma levels of HCV RNA, determined by an amplicore-monitor method, for patients in group A were significantly lower than those for group B at the fourth and eighth day of IFN administration, and complete virological responses were noted in two patients from group A but none in group B. It is concluded that twice daily administration of 3 MU IFN-beta is more effective than once a day 6 MU in the early phase of IFN therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red-cross Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kumada
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imawari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeniya
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toda
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D016899:Interferon-beta