Abstract
Standard recombinant interferon α (rIFN-α) therapy induces a sustained ALT normalization in 15% to 25% of patients with chronic hepatitis C. In cirrhotic patients this rate of response is still lower. We evaluated if a longer duration of treatment (12 months) might increase this disappointing response rate and if the clinical characteristics of patients could differentiate responders from nonresponders in a population where liver cirrhosis was prevalent. At the end-of-treatment period, the rate of ALT normalization was 29%. After 12 months of a follow-up period, only 10% of treated patients had normal ALT and, among cirrhotic patients, this value fell to 4.1%. Only initial low γ-glutamyltranspeptidase levels (GGT) were associated with response to IFN treatment. Our results indicate that a prolonged course of rIFN-α is not able to increase the rate of durable response to IFN in patients with advanced chronic hepatitis C.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 83-88 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Mediterranean Journal of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - 1996 |
Keywords
- antiviral therapy
- chronic hepatitis C
- interferon
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Microbiology (medical)