PMID: 8962775Sep 1, 1996Paper

Treatment with interferon alfa-2b in patients with chronic hepatitis caused by hepatitis C virus: predictive factors for the response, relapse and early development to cirrhosis after treatment

Revista Española De Enfermedades Digestivas : Organo Oficial De La Sociedad Española De Patología Digestiva
F Pérez RoldánG Clemente

Abstract

The treatment of chronic hepatitis C is interferon (IFN). Diverse predictive factors influence a complete response. The aim of this study was to determine the response to IFN-alpha therapy and factors that may predict a sustained response before and after the first month of treatment. Likewise, it evaluates the relapse and liver cirrhosis evolution after therapy. We have treated 155 consecutively patients with chronic hepatitis C. Nine left therapy because of severe side effects. We studied the patients who had had persistently elevated serum aminotransferase concentrations, HBsAg negative, HIV negative and antiHCV positive with polymerase chain reaction confirmation, and without any other liver disease. The schedule of IFN-alpha 2b therapy was 5 MU three times per week for 3 months, and later, 3 MU three times per week for 6 more months. There were two groups of response: A) Complete response, if serum aminotransferase levels were normal and RNA-HCV negative, B) No response, if it didn't meet these conditions. The sustained response was complete response during follow-up. The relapse described as aminotransferase increase after suppression therapy with or without positive RNA-HCV, or positive RNA-HCV only. A complete response ...Continue Reading

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