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Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with recombinant human interferon‐α 2a : Results of a randomized controlled clinical trial
Author(s) -
Diodati Giulio,
Bonetti Paola,
Noventa Franco,
Casarin Carla,
Rugge Massimo,
Scaccabarozzi Sergio,
Tagger Alessandro,
Pollice Lucio,
Tremolada Federico,
Davite Cristina,
Realdi Giuseppe,
Ruol Arturo
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840190102
Subject(s) - recombinant dna , medicine , chronic hepatitis , randomized controlled trial , interferon , virology , clinical trial , gastroenterology , biology , virus , biochemistry , gene
Sixty consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C were included in a randomized controlled trial of recombinant human interferon‐α 2a vs. no treatment. Treated patients received tapering doses of interferon thrice weekly for 1 yr. Twenty treated cases (66.7) normalized serum aminotransferase levels within the first 4 mo of treatment, but reactivation or breakthrough frequently occurred afterward (20 in both cases). Only one of the untreated patients showed spontaneous normalization of serum aminotransferase levels. Liver histology did not improve in patients without a biochemical response or with breakthrough during therapy, whereas it did not worsen in long‐term responders and reactivating patients. Lack of response does not appear to be related to serum interferon antibodies, although their early appearance is more frequent in patients who showed reactivation later on. No biochemical parameter was found to be predictive for positive response to treatment. Antibody to c100 became negative in 62.5 of long‐term responders, whereas no change was recorded in other treated patients or controls. Reactivation and breakthrough often occur during treatment, and further studies are needed to determine the most effective schedule (dose and time) of interferon treatment. Loss of c100 antibody during therapy may be a marker of long‐term maintenance of response to interferon therapy. (Hepatology 1994;19:1–5).