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The Use of Recombinant Interferon Alfa‐2b in Elderly Patients with Anti‐HCV‐Positive Chronic Active Hepatitis
Author(s) -
Bresci Giampaolo,
Corso Laura,
Romanelli Anna Maria,
Giuliano Gabriella,
Pentimone Ferdinando
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1993.tb06184.x
Subject(s) - medicine , interferon alfa , recombinant dna , chronic hepatitis , hepatitis c , interferon , virology , alpha interferon , hepatitis , immunology , virus , biochemistry , chemistry , gene
Objective: To compare efficacy and tolerance of recombinant interferon alfa‐2b in the treatment of anti‐HCV‐positive chronic active hepatitis (CAH) in subjects aged 65 years and above with those less than 65. Design : A randomized controlled trial. Setting : Outpatients in two hospitals. Patients : 65 consecutive outpatients with anti‐HCV‐positive CAH for 1 to 30 years, having basal aminotransferase levels at least twice the normal value. Those 65 and over were randomized to an interferon group (A, n = 22) or a no‐treatment group (B, n = 22). All those under 65 received interferon (group C, n = 21). Intervention : Interferon at a dose of 3 mU 3 times a week for a 6‐month period. A normalization of serum aminotransferase levels was considered a positive response to therapy. Results : Response to therapy was positive in 62% of the treated elderly compared to 57% of the adults ( P = 0.85). The two groups of responders showed a common highly significant reduction of aminostransferase ( P < 0.001). Side effects were similar in elderly and young. Two untreated elderly showed spontaneous normalization of aminotransferase. Conclusion : Interferon in anti‐HCV‐positive CAH is useful in the elderly, allowing normalization of aminotransferase, improvement of the histology and remission of the disease in 62% of the cases. Side effects seem to be independent of age. Further studies are required to assess both duration of remission and usefulness of cyclic therapy in previous responders.