title: Human leucocyte interferon-alpha in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: 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.
authors: Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Trieste, School of Medicine, Italy.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Mazzoran
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Zorat
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Chemello
authors: L S
authors: LS
authors: Crocè
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Rigato
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Cavalletto
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Bernardinello
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Tiribelli
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Alberti
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Pozzato
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase