Twice-daily administration of interferon-beta for chronic hepatitis C is not superior to a once-daily regimen.
OBJECTIVE
Although interferon (IFN) is commonly used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, eradication of the virus occurs in only a small proportion of patients with genotype 1b and a high virus titer. Modified IFN therapies have been tried, with only limited benefit. Recently, the administration of IFN-beta twice per day has been reported to be more effective than the usual once-daily administration regimen. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether twice-daily IFN results in a sustained response in patients with chronic HCV infection with genotype 1b, and a high virus titer.


METHODS
Twenty patients with genotype 1b and high HCV RNA level (more than 1 MEq/ml by branched DNA probe assay) were randomly assigned to receive either twice-daily 3 MU of IFN beta (group A) or once-daily 6 MU of IFN-beta (group B) for 4 weeks. All patients received a further daily dose of 6 MU IFN-beta for 12 weeks, followed by IFN-alfa three times a week for 16 weeks.


RESULTS
Although a rapid fall in HCV RNA levels was noted in group A, a sustained response was observed in only one of nine patients in this group, and none of group B. Adverse effects of IFN were more frequent and pronounced in group A than in group B.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that further modification, which combines the early strong anti-viral effects of the twice-daily regimen with long-term sustained response, is necessary for effective therapy of HCV patients with genotype 1b and high HCV RNA levels.
Suzuki
F
F
Department of Gastroenterology, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Chayama
K
K
Tsubota
A
A
Akuta
N
N
Someya
T
T
Kobayashi
M
M
Suzuki
Y
Y
Saitoh
S
S
Arase
Y
Y
Ikeda
K
K
Kumada
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000410:Alanine Transaminase