title: Interferon alpha monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C viral infection in thalassemics and hemodialysis patients.
abstract: We assessed the effectiveness of interferon (IFN) monotherapy in thalassemic or hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection. Ten thalassemic and four hemodialysis patients were included in the study. Chronic HCV was confirmed with both serum HCV-RNA and liver histopathology. IFN alpha-2a was administered three times a week for 24-48 weeks, at a dose of 5 MU/m2 (maximum 6 million units). Sustained response was defined as negative HCV-RNA at least 24 weeks after termination of the treatment. All patients completed the study. Eight of 10 thalassemic (80%) and one of four hemodialysis patients (25%) showed a sustained response. IFN monotherapy proved to be an effective treatment, especially in thalassemic patients with chronic HCV. IFN monotherapy seems reasonable for patients with thalassemia and chronic hepatitis C virus in whom ribavirin cannot be used.
authors.affiliation: Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Antalya, Turkey. artan@akdeniz.edu.tr
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Artan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akcam
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kocacik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins