Efficacy of interferon-alpha treatment in Japanese children with chronic hepatitis C.
BACKGROUND
We investigated the efficacy of natural interferon (IFN)-alpha treatment in 34 Japanese children with chronic hepatitis C.


METHODS
Thirty-four children completed 6 months of therapy with natural IFN-alpha and were followed for 12 months or longer. We examined the serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA titer and liver histology before, during, and after IFN treatment.


RESULTS
At 6 months after the cessation of IFN-alpha treatment, 16 patients (47%) had normal serum alanine aminotransferase concentration and no detectable serum HCV RNA. There were no major side-effects, excluding some influenza-like symptoms during the IFN-alpha treatment. Most genotype 2a patients had a complete response (80%). Moreover, patients who had a low HCV RNA titer (<102 copies/mL) after 1 month of IFN-alpha treatment became complete responders at 6 months after the cessation of treatment. Histological improvement was observed in almost all patients after IFN-alpha treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Interferon-alpha treatment is safe and effective for children with chronic hepatitis C and has no serious side-effects. A HCV RNA concentration of <102 copies/mL after 1 month of IFN-alpha treatment and genotype 2a may be useful predictors of long-term IFN efficacy.
Nakashima
Eisuke
E
Departments of Peditarics, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
Fujisawa
Takuji
T
Kimura
Akihiko
A
Kage
Masayoshi
M
Yamato
Yasuhiko
Y
Maeda
Kohji
K
Kumagai
Masami
M
Ushijima
Kosuke
K
Yamashita
Yasuhiro
Y
Matsuishi
Toyojiro
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012313:RNA