Interferon-alpha in combination with ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients with persistently normal aminotransferase levels.
OBJECTIVE
A substantial proportion of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection have persistently normal serum transaminase levels. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of interferon plus ribavirin combination therapy in this population.


METHODS
In this prospective open trial 152 patients with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis C were enrolled, 32 of whom had persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels (group A). The remaining 120 patients served as a comparison (group B). Patients were treated for 12 months with 4.5 million units of interferon-alpha(2a) thrice weekly in combination with ribavirin 1,000 or 1,200 mg daily. They were followed up for at least 6 months after therapy. Serum hepatitis C RNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction and quantified by a branched DNA assay.


RESULTS
At the end of treatment, 12 (37.5%) and 48 patients (40%) were negative for HCV-RNA in groups A and B, respectively (p = 0.33). After 24 weeks of follow-up, 9 patients (28%) from group A and 36 patients (30%) from group B were still HCV-RNA negative (p = 0.4). Treatment was well tolerated by both groups. There were no alanine transferase elevations among group A patients during therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Interferon-ribavirin combination therapy was safe and induced a sustained virologic response in a significant proportion of patients with chronic hepatitis C and repeatedly normal serum transaminase levels.
Hasan
Fuad
F
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait. fuad@hsc.kuniv.edu.kw
Asker
Haifa
H
Al-Khalid
Jameela
J
Al-Mekhaizeem
Khalid
K
Al-Shamali
Mohammed
M
Siddique
Iqbal
I
Al-Nakib
Basil
B
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin; D000410:Alanine Transaminase