title: Sustained response to interferon alpha-2a in thalassemic patients with chronic hepatitis C. A prospective 8-year follow-up study.
abstract: Eighty-nine thalassemic patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with interferon alpha-2a for 12 months and followed up for 8 years. Interferon induced sustained virologic and biochemical response in 45% of participants and histologic improvement in 50% of patients who had paired liver biopsies. Splenectomy was the only independent predictor of an unfavorable outcome.
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Syriopoulou
authors.forename: George L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Daikos
authors.forename: Stavroula L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kostaridou
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Manolaki
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nakopoulou
authors.forename: Antonis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kattamis
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kattamis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins