PMID: 8991609Jun 1, 1996Paper

Prevention and treatment of hepatitis C

Bulletin de l'Académie nationale de médecine
R Poupon, L Serfaty

Abstract

Interferon is the only treatment shown to be effective on hepatitis C in controlled trials. The response to treatment is generally assessed in terms of a return to normal transaminase activity, but also negative PCR testing for viral RNA and histopathological examination of the liver. At a dose of 3 MU three times a week for 6 months, 25% of patients have a persistent return to normal transaminase activity, 25% relapse when interferon is withdrawn, and the remaining 50% have persistently high levels at the end of treatment and are considered resistant. The rate of persistent responses increases to 40% when treatment is extended to one year. Viral RNA becomes undetectable in the serum of 80% of these responders. Most also have a histological improvement, but so do a number of patients who relapse or who are resistant. In the longer term, interferon could prevent the onset of liver cancer in patients with viral C cirrhosis. Interferon is generally well tolerated at the doses currently used, most side effects (hematologic, neuropsychiatric and thyroid disorders) resolving when treatment is stopped. The following factors are clearly predictive of the response to interferon : young age, short time since onset, absence of cirrhosis, ...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antivirals

Antivirals are medications that are used specifically for treating viral infections. Discover the latest research on antivirals here.

Antivirals (ASM)

Antivirals are medications that are used specifically for treating viral infections. Discover the latest research on antivirals here.

HIV/AIDS-Related Malignancies

HIV/AIDS infection increases the risk of non-communicable diseases common in the aged including HIV/AIDS-related malignancies. Discover the latest research in HIV/AIDS-related malignancies.

Related Papers

Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan : JCPSP
Zaigham AbbasPakistan Society for the Study of Liver Diseases
Drug Safety : an International Journal of Medical Toxicology and Drug Experience
Fabien Zoulim
Seizure : the Journal of the British Epilepsy Association
S Pradeep Kumar, Philip E M Smith
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved