title: Interferon alpha therapy in haemophilic patients with chronic hepatitis C: a French multicentre pilot study of 58 patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Liver Diseases Unit, CHU Besançon, France. hepatologie@chu-besancon.fr
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Beurton
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bertrand
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bresson-Hadni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parquet-Gernez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goudemand
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Paris
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cales
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Briquel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaucher
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cortey
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trepo
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Miguet
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cahn
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins