Daily consensus interferon (CIFN) monotherapy in non-responders or relapsers to a previous interferon regime: one year follow-up after 48 weeks of treatment.
OBJECTIVE
Data suggests on the basis of thrice a week therapy, efficacy of mono consensus interferon is comparable to other alpha interferons. One-year follow-up after 12-month daily consensus interferon monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C among non-responders or relapsers to previous consensus interferon monotherapy is investigated.


METHODS
Between February and August 1998, 11 non-cirrhotic patients with previous consensus interferon failure were treated. Six were relapsers and five non-responders. Serum HCV-RNA was tested at the 12th and 48th weeks of treatment and followed for one year thereafter.


RESULTS
Eight (72%) were HCV-RNA negative at both 12th and 48th weeks. Of these, 60% (3/5) were among previous non-responders and 83% (5/6) were among previous relapsers. One year sustained virological response was 55%. Of this, 40% (2/5) were among non-responders and 66% (4/6) previous relapsers.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that daily consensus interferon needs to be further investigated as an alternative to pegylated formulations, especially with the addition of ribavirin.
Aladağ
Murat
M
Department of Gastroenterology, Inönü University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey. maladag@inonu.edu.tr
Karasu
Zeki
Z
Wright
Harlan
H
Gürakar
Ahmet
A
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007370:Interferon Type I; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C050739:interferon alfacon-1