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Clinical efficacy of intramuscular human interferon‐β vs interferon‐α2b for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C
Author(s) -
Pérez R.,
Pravia R.,
Artímez M. L.,
Giganto F.,
Rodríguez M.,
Lombraña J. L. S.,
Rodrigo L.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2893.1995.tb00014.x
Subject(s) - medicine , interferon , gastroenterology , alpha interferon , intramuscular injection , beta (programming language) , adverse effect , chronic hepatitis , alpha (finance) , immunology , recombinant dna , virus , surgery , biology , computer science , gene , patient satisfaction , programming language , construct validity , biochemistry
Summary. We have conducted a randomized study to compare the efficacy and tolerance of human interferon (IFN) β vs recombinant IFN‐α2b in patients with chronic active hepatitis C. Forty patients were included: 21 received IFN‐α (group A) and 19 IFN‐β (group B). IFN was administered intramuscularly at a dose of 6 MU three times a week (tiw) for 2 months (induction phase), followed by 3 MU tiw for 4 months. Clinical, epidemiological and pathological features were similar in the two groups. Normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values at the end of treatment was regarded as a response to therapy and the response rate was 57% (12/21) in group A and 5.2% (1/19) in group B ( P < 0.01). Both types of IFN induced a significant decrease in mean ALT values by the end of the induction phase ( P < 0.01). When the dose was reduced to 3 MU, a marked, but not significant increase in ALT, was seen in group B, whereas no increase was seen in group A. IFN‐β was better tolerated and haematological adverse effects (platelet and leucocyte decrease) were less pronounced with IFN‐β. Hence, human IFN‐β was less effective than IFN‐α in treating chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). Doses of IFN‐β of 3 MU intramuscular (IM) tiw were clearly insufficient and it remains to be established whether higher doses of intramuscularly IFN‐β can be useful.