The efficacy of short-term interferon-beta therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients with low virus load.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to elucidate the efficacy of short-term interferon (IFN) therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients with low virus load.


METHODS
The present study was a retrospective cohort study. Inclusion criteria were biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis, the serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA level of less than 100 KIU/ml, IFN period of 8 weeks or less. One hundred and eleven consecutive patients satisfied above criteria were treated with IFN-beta (dose: 6 MU, daily for 4, 6, or 8 weeks).


RESULTS
Background of clinical profiles were as follows: median (range) age=56 (20-73) years, male/female=64/47, genotype 1b/2a/2b=40/68/3, and median (range) HCV-RNA=34 (4.5-81) KIU/ml. Out of 111, 64 patients (57.7%) had sustained viral response (SVR). Based on the difference of HCV genotype, the SVR rate was 47.5% (19/40) in genotype 1 and 63.3% (45/71) in genotype 2. In genotype 1, the SVR rate in patients treated with the 8-week-regimen was significantly higher than that in patients treated with the 4- or 6-week regimen. In contrast, in genotype 2, the SVR in patients treated with the 8-week regimen was not significantly different from that in patients treated with the 6-week regimen. None of the patients had severe IFN-related side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
The 6 or 8-week regiment of IFN-beta therapy is one selection of therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients who have tended to have a SVR and who show IFN-related adverse events.
Kawamura
Yusuke
Y
Department of Hepatology, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo. k-yusuke@toranomon.gr.jp
Arase
Yasuji
Y
Ikeda
Kenji
K
Suzuki
Fumitaka
F
Suzuki
Yoshiyuki
Y
Kobayashi
Masahiro
M
Akuta
Norio
N
Hosaka
Tetsuya
T
Sezaki
Hitomi
H
Yatsuji
Hiromi
H
Kobayashi
Mariko
M
Kumada
Hiromitsu
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins