The efficacy of 24-week interferon monotherapy for type C liver cirrhosis in Japanese patients with genotype 1b and low virus load.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

The aim of this study was to elucidate the efficacy of interferon (IFN) therapy in liver cirrhosis Japanese patients with genotype 1b and low virus load.

METHODS:

The present study was a retrospective cohort study. Inclusion criteria were liver cirrhosis, HCV genotype 1b, HCV RNA of <100 KIU/ml, and natural IFN-alpha monotherapy for 24 weeks. In 23 consecutive patients who satisfied the above criteria the efficacy and side effects of IFN were examined. Independent factors that might have influenced a sustained virologic response (SVR) were studied using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS:

The clinical patient profiles were as follows: median (range) age 52 (37-69) years; male/female 18/5, and median (range) HCV RNA 52 (<5-92) KIU/ml. Eight of the 23 patients (34.8%) had SVR by intention-to-treat analysis. Logistic analysis indicated that an HCV RNA level of <50 KIU/ml was associated with SVR (p = 0.049). The median (range) HCV RNA levels were 28 (<5-68) KIU/ml in patients with SVR and 60 (6-92) KIU/ml in patients without SVR.

CONCLUSIONS:

24-week IFN monotherapy is a suitable therapy for type C cirrhotic patients with genotype 1b and an HCV RNA level of <50 KIU/ml.

• Authors: Yasuji Arase, Fumitaka Suzuki, Hitomi Sezaki, Yusuke Kawamura, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Masahiro Kobayashi, Norio Akuta, Tetsuya Hosaka, Hiromi Yatsuji, Miharu Hirakawa, Mariko Kobayashi, Kenji Ikeda, Hiromitsu Kumada
• Journal: Intervirology (Intervirology) Vol. 51 Issue 4 Pg. 265-9 ( 2008) ISSN: 1423-0100 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 18841028 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Interferons

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Cohort Studies
• Female
• Genotype
• Hepacivirus (classification, genetics)
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Interferons (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Japan
• Liver Cirrhosis (virology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome
• Viral Load