Interferon alpha therapy in haemophilic patients with chronic hepatitis C: a French multicentre pilot study of 58 patients.
OBJECTIVE
Information about the long-term efficacy of interferon alpha (interferon-alpha) in haemophilic patients with chronic hepatitis not co-infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) is still limited. Previous studies seemed to indicate a low rate of response. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and long-term efficacy of interferon treatment in multi-transfused haemophiliacs.


METHODS
Fifty-eight haemophiliacs were scheduled to receive 3 MU of interferon-alpha 2b three times a week for 12 months. The patients were followed up for at least 24 months post-treatment. Response was assessed by measurements of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA.


RESULTS
Twenty-four patients (41.4%) dropped out. Except for seven patients, the symptoms that led to interrupting interferon treatment would probably not have resulted in the same decision in non-haemophilic patients. One patient developed an inhibitor to the deficient clotting factor without haemorrhagic consequences. In an intent to treat, the sustained virological response rate was 14%. However, when considering only the 34 patients who received the full treatment, HCV-RNA was cleared in eight patients (23%).


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that multi-transfused haemophiliacs with chronic hepatitis not co-infected with HIV-1 respond to prolonged treatment with interferon-alpha in a similar proportion to that observed in non-haemophiliacs. There was a high rate of patients who did not complete the interferon-alpha treatment, and this seems to be characteristic of this patient population.
Beurton
I
I
Liver Diseases Unit, CHU Besançon, France. hepatologie@chu-besancon.fr
Bertrand
M A
MA
Bresson-Hadni
S
S
Parquet-Gernez
A
A
Goudemand
J
J
Paris
J C
JC
Cales
P
P
Briquel
M E
ME
Gaucher
P
P
Cortey
M L
ML
Trepo
C
C
Miguet
J P
JP
Cahn
J Y
JY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins