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Efficacy of low dose long‐term interferon monotherapy in aged patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 and its relation to alpha‐fetoprotein: A pilot study
Author(s) -
Nomura Hideyuki,
Kashiwagi Yoichiro,
Hirano Ryouko,
Tanimoto Hironori,
Tsutsumi Nobuo,
Higashi Masashi,
Ishibashi Hiromi
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2007.00073.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cirrhosis , gastroenterology , hepatocellular carcinoma , ribavirin , interferon , alpha interferon , chronic hepatitis , immunology , virus
Aim: The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of low dose long‐term interferon (IFN) therapy in aged patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1. Methods: The IFN therapy was performed in Shin‐Kokura Hospital on 44 patients aged 60 or older with chronic hepatitis C. All patients had high viral loads of genotype 1. Three million units of natural IFN‐α was administered intramuscularly or intrasubcutaneously, three times a week for three years. A control group of 44 subjects not treated with IFN, matched for age, gender and hepatic histology, was formed. Results: Two of the 44 patients showed a sustained virological response. Alanine aminotransferase was below the upper limit of normal in 59% (23/39) of the patients and alpha‐fetoprotein was less than 40 ng/mL in 97% (38/39) on the completion of treatment. Sustained biochemical response was observed in 53% (19/36) of the patients. In the liver cirrhosis group, serum albumin values and platelet counts increased in 38% (6/16) and 33% (6/18) of patients, respectively. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) appeared in three patients by 13 months after the start of treatment, but no cases were reported thereafter. The cumulative non‐carcinogenesis rate of HCC in the liver cirrhosis group was significantly higher in the IFN treatment group compared to the control group (log–rank test, P = 0.046). Conclusion: Low dose long‐term interferon monotherapy to prevent carcinogenesis of HCC was considered useful in aged patients for whom peg‐interferon and ribavirin combination therapy is difficult.