Human leucocyte interferon-alpha in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of different schedules of human leucocyte interferon alpha in chronic hepatitis C.


METHODS
A total of 213 naive patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with 4 different schedules of human leucocyte interferon alpha. Sustained response was defined as persistently normal alanine amino transferase values with negative serum hepatitis C virus-RNA up to 12 months after therapy withdrawal.


RESULTS
Rates of sustained response were 16% with 3 MU tiw for 6 months, 33% with 6 MU tiw for 5 months after a priming dose of 9 MU tiw for a month, 32% with 3 MU tiw for 12 months and 20% with 3 MU daily for 6 months. The major factors affecting the response rate were age and the hepatitis C virus genotype, as a sustained response was significantly higher in patients under 45 years and infected by hepatitis C virus types other than hepatitis C virus-1. Treatment was well tolerated and side-effects and drop-out events were similar to those described with other types of alpha-interferons.


CONCLUSIONS
Human leucocyte interferon alpha appears to be equivalent to recombinant interferon-alpha in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
Mazzoran
L
L
Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Trieste, School of Medicine, Italy.
Zorat
F
F
Chemello
L
L
Crocè
L S
LS
Rigato
I
I
Cavalletto
L
L
Bernardinello
E
E
Tiribelli
C
C
Alberti
A
A
Pozzato
G
G
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 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase