Abstract | OBJECTIVE: METHODS: The present study was a retrospective cohort study. Inclusion criteria were biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis, the serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA level of less than 100 KIU/ml, IFN period of 8 weeks or less. One hundred and eleven consecutive patients satisfied above criteria were treated with IFN-beta (dose: 6 MU, daily for 4, 6, or 8 weeks). RESULTS: Background of clinical profiles were as follows: median (range) age=56 (20-73) years, male/female=64/47, genotype 1b/2a/2b=40/68/3, and median (range) HCV- RNA=34 (4.5-81) KIU/ml. Out of 111, 64 patients (57.7%) had sustained viral response (SVR). Based on the difference of HCV genotype, the SVR rate was 47.5% (19/40) in genotype 1 and 63.3% (45/71) in genotype 2. In genotype 1, the SVR rate in patients treated with the 8-week-regimen was significantly higher than that in patients treated with the 4- or 6-week regimen. In contrast, in genotype 2, the SVR in patients treated with the 8-week regimen was not significantly different from that in patients treated with the 6-week regimen. None of the patients had severe IFN-related side effects. CONCLUSIONS: The 6 or 8-week regiment of IFN-beta therapy is one selection of therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients who have tended to have a SVR and who show IFN-related adverse events.
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Authors | Yusuke Kawamura, Yasuji Arase, Kenji Ikeda, Fumitaka Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Masahiro Kobayashi, Norio Akuta, Tetsuya Hosaka, Hitomi Sezaki, Hiromi Yatsuji, Mariko Kobayashi, Hiromitsu Kumada |
Journal | Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
(Intern Med)
Vol. 47
Issue 5
Pg. 355-60
( 2008)
ISSN: 1349-7235 [Electronic] Japan |
PMID | 18310963
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Antiviral Agents
- Interferon Type I
- Recombinant Proteins
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Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Antiviral Agents
(administration & dosage, adverse effects)
- Cohort Studies
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Drug Administration Schedule
- Female
- Genotype
- Hepacivirus
(drug effects, genetics)
- Hepatitis C, Chronic
(drug therapy, genetics, virology)
- Humans
- Interferon Type I
(administration & dosage, adverse effects)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Recombinant Proteins
- Retrospective Studies
- Viral Load
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