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High‐dose natural interferon‐α therapy for chronic hepatitis C with a high viral load: Predictors of efficacy
Author(s) -
Komatsu Masafumi,
Suto Toshiyuki,
Ishikawa Kazuyoshi,
Sato Shunichi
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1746.1999.01934.x
Subject(s) - medicine , viral load , interferon , hepatitis c virus , genotype , viral disease , virus , alpha interferon , immunology , logistic regression , interferon alfa , viral hepatitis , virology , gastroenterology , biology , biochemistry , gene
Background : The effectiveness of interferon against hepatitis C has been found to be greatly affected by viral factors. However, few controlled interferon trials have involved seemingly intractable cases of chronic hepatitis C. Methods: In 44 patients with high hepatitis C virus RNA levels (≥ 10 5 copies/mL), we carried out a prospective, controlled study of two natural interferon‐α regimens, seeking predictors of therapeutic efficacy. Total natural interferon‐α doses over 6 months in two groups were 780 and 840 million units, respectively. Results : High therapeutic efficacy was achieved with no significant outcome difference between the regimens. The virus eradication rate was 35% and the rate of sustained biochemical response was 45% for both regimens. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified viral genotype as the only significant predictor of success in viral eradication. Conclusions: Hepatitis C virus genotype 2 showed high sensitivity to interferon‐α and this therapy can be recommended even for patients with a high viral load of this genotype. In contrast, with genotype 1b, cure was extremely difficult in cases with 10 7 or more copies/mL with a single 6‐month course of interferon‐α.