Abstract
Background and aim.: Large interferon-based therapeutic trials are still lacking in children with hepatitis C and the long-term safety and efficacy of interferon is unknown. This study describes the outcome of hepatitis C in 43 children enrolled in an open-label interferon trial, and were followed up to 66 months after stopping treatment. Patients and methods.: All patients received interferon alfa2a (5 MU/m2) thrice weekly for 6 months; children with genotype 1b received 3 MU/m2 thrice weekly for 6 additional months. Results.: Nine children discontinued interferon for adverse events and three were not compliant to treatment. Eight (19%, intention to treat analysis), including 2/20 (10%) with genotype 1b and 6/12 (50%) with genotypes 2 or 3, were sustained responders 12 months after stopping therapy. During further follow-up (mean ± S.D.: 44.7 ± 14.6 months), response was maintained; two non-responders cleared viremia, while a young boy progressed to cirrhosis. Conclusions.: Small sample size and therapy withdrawal are the major limitations in the interpretation of our results. Nevertheless, our data, suggesting that response to interferon in children with hepatitis C is genotype-related and stable, agree with the results of large studies in adults. The outcome in non-responders was variable, including persistence of viremia and mild-moderate cytolysis (most cases), progression to cirrhosis, or eventual sustained viremia clearance.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 336-341 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Digestive and Liver Disease |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2005 |
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Keywords
- Children
- Hepatitis C
- Interferon
- Therapy of hepatitis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Gastroenterology
Cite this
Interferon treatment in children with chronic hepatitis C : Long-lasting remission in responders, and risk for disease progression in non-responders. / Bortolotti, F.; Iorio, R.; Nebbia, G.; Marcellini, M.; Giacchino, R.; Zancan, L.; Gussetti, N.; Barbera, C.; Maccabruni, A.; Verucchi, G.; Balli, F.; Vegnente, A.; Guido, M.; Bartolacci, S.
In: Digestive and Liver Disease, Vol. 37, No. 5, 05.2005, p. 336-341.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Interferon treatment in children with chronic hepatitis C
T2 - Long-lasting remission in responders, and risk for disease progression in non-responders
AU - Bortolotti, F.
AU - Iorio, R.
AU - Nebbia, G.
AU - Marcellini, M.
AU - Giacchino, R.
AU - Zancan, L.
AU - Gussetti, N.
AU - Barbera, C.
AU - Maccabruni, A.
AU - Verucchi, G.
AU - Balli, F.
AU - Vegnente, A.
AU - Guido, M.
AU - Bartolacci, S.
PY - 2005/5
Y1 - 2005/5
N2 - Background and aim.: Large interferon-based therapeutic trials are still lacking in children with hepatitis C and the long-term safety and efficacy of interferon is unknown. This study describes the outcome of hepatitis C in 43 children enrolled in an open-label interferon trial, and were followed up to 66 months after stopping treatment. Patients and methods.: All patients received interferon alfa2a (5 MU/m2) thrice weekly for 6 months; children with genotype 1b received 3 MU/m2 thrice weekly for 6 additional months. Results.: Nine children discontinued interferon for adverse events and three were not compliant to treatment. Eight (19%, intention to treat analysis), including 2/20 (10%) with genotype 1b and 6/12 (50%) with genotypes 2 or 3, were sustained responders 12 months after stopping therapy. During further follow-up (mean ± S.D.: 44.7 ± 14.6 months), response was maintained; two non-responders cleared viremia, while a young boy progressed to cirrhosis. Conclusions.: Small sample size and therapy withdrawal are the major limitations in the interpretation of our results. Nevertheless, our data, suggesting that response to interferon in children with hepatitis C is genotype-related and stable, agree with the results of large studies in adults. The outcome in non-responders was variable, including persistence of viremia and mild-moderate cytolysis (most cases), progression to cirrhosis, or eventual sustained viremia clearance.
AB - Background and aim.: Large interferon-based therapeutic trials are still lacking in children with hepatitis C and the long-term safety and efficacy of interferon is unknown. This study describes the outcome of hepatitis C in 43 children enrolled in an open-label interferon trial, and were followed up to 66 months after stopping treatment. Patients and methods.: All patients received interferon alfa2a (5 MU/m2) thrice weekly for 6 months; children with genotype 1b received 3 MU/m2 thrice weekly for 6 additional months. Results.: Nine children discontinued interferon for adverse events and three were not compliant to treatment. Eight (19%, intention to treat analysis), including 2/20 (10%) with genotype 1b and 6/12 (50%) with genotypes 2 or 3, were sustained responders 12 months after stopping therapy. During further follow-up (mean ± S.D.: 44.7 ± 14.6 months), response was maintained; two non-responders cleared viremia, while a young boy progressed to cirrhosis. Conclusions.: Small sample size and therapy withdrawal are the major limitations in the interpretation of our results. Nevertheless, our data, suggesting that response to interferon in children with hepatitis C is genotype-related and stable, agree with the results of large studies in adults. The outcome in non-responders was variable, including persistence of viremia and mild-moderate cytolysis (most cases), progression to cirrhosis, or eventual sustained viremia clearance.
KW - Children
KW - Hepatitis C
KW - Interferon
KW - Therapy of hepatitis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=24044532949&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=24044532949&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.dld.2004.12.010
DO - 10.1016/j.dld.2004.12.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 15843083
AN - SCOPUS:24044532949
VL - 37
SP - 336
EP - 341
JO - Digestive and Liver Disease
JF - Digestive and Liver Disease
SN - 1590-8658
IS - 5
ER -