Abstract | BACKGROUND & AIMS: METHODS: Ninety-two patients with chronic hepatitis C who had shown transient or no response to recombinant IFN-alpha were randomly retreated with different schedules of lymphoblastoid IFN-alpha and followed up for 12 months after therapy to define biochemical and virological response. RESULTS: None of 26 initial nonresponders obtained a sustained response with retreatment, independent of the schedule used. Thirteen of 66 patients (20%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 10.9-31.3) with transient response during the primary cycle developed a sustained biochemical and virological response when retreated, including 3 of 41 (7%; 95% CI, 1.5-9.9) of those receiving the same schedule and 10 of 25 (40%; 95% CI, 21.1-61.3; P < 0.004) of those retreated with a higher dosage and for a longer period. Shorter disease duration (P = 0.02), higher alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.002) and lower gamma-glutamyltransferase levels (P = 0.004), HCV genotype other than HCV-1 (P = 0.03), and a negative serum HCV- RNA test at the end of the primary cycle (P = 0.000) were associated with sustained response. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chronic hepatitis C who have a relapse after a complete response to a 6-month IFN-alpha treatment should be retreated for 12 months. Nonresponders should not be retreated with IFN alone.
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Authors | L Chemello, L Cavalletto, C Donada, P Bonetti, P Casarin, F Urban, E Bernardinello, P Pontisso, A Alberti |
Journal | Gastroenterology
(Gastroenterology)
Vol. 113
Issue 5
Pg. 1654-9
(Nov 1997)
ISSN: 0016-5085 [Print] United States |
PMID | 9352869
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Interferon-alpha
- RNA, Viral
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Chronic Disease
- Female
- Hepatitis C
(therapy)
- Humans
- Interferon-alpha
(therapeutic use)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- RNA, Viral
(blood)
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