Abstract |
Recombinant interferon alfa (r- IFN alpha 2) has been shown to normalize the aminotransferase levels in approximately 50% of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). Few patients experience a relapse during the treatment, in spite of a complete initial response (breakthrough). We studied 191 HCV Ab-positive patients with histologically proven chronic hepatitis. All of them were treated with r- IFN alpha 2 (3 MU three times a week). A complete response was seen in 54.4%. However, 12 of 104 responders experienced a breakthrough. At the time of breakthrough, neutralizing IFN antibodies were positive in 6 of 12 patients. Binding IFN antibodies were positive in all of these 12 patients. Continued treatment with r- IFN alpha 2, even at higher doses, did not restore the previous response in any patient. All of them were then switched to natural lymphoblastoid IFN, and this rapidly restored a complete response in all of the patients.
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Authors | L Roffi, G C Mels, G Antonelli, G Bellati, F Panizzuti, A Piperno, M Pozzi, D Ravizza, G Angeli, F Dianzani |
Journal | Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.)
(Hepatology)
Vol. 21
Issue 3
Pg. 645-9
(Mar 1995)
ISSN: 0270-9139 [Print] United States |
PMID | 7875661
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Antibodies
- Interferon-alpha
- Recombinant Proteins
- Alanine Transaminase
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Alanine Transaminase
(blood)
- Antibodies
(analysis)
- Chronic Disease
- Female
- Hepatitis C
(blood, epidemiology, therapy)
- Humans
- Interferon-alpha
(immunology, therapeutic use)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Prevalence
- Recombinant Proteins
- Recurrence
- Treatment Outcome
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