Treatment of acute hepatitis C with interferon alpha-2b: early initiation of treatment is the most effective predictive factor of sustained viral response.
Aliment Pharmacol Ther
; 20(1): 15-22, 2004 Jul 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-15225166
ABSTRACT
AIM:
To evaluate the efficacy of early interferon alpha-2b in non-post-transfusion acute hepatitis C virus a prospective study with historical comparison. PATIENTS Group A 28 patients prospectively treated for acute hepatitis C virus with daily regimen of interferon 5 million units for 2 months. Group B historical series of 16 patients with untreated acute hepatitis C virus.RESULTS:
There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to gender, age, icterus, alanine aminotransferase, or genotypes. In group B, hepatitis spontaneously resolved in three of 16 (19%) patients (follow-up 1-7 years). In group A, 21 of 25 patients became sustained viral responders (75%; P = 0.0003 vs. group B). Factors include not predictive of sustained viral response age, gender, sources of infection, presence of icterus, alanine aminotransferase peak, bilirubin peak, incubation period, presence of hepatitis C virus antibodies at presentation, or genotypes. The time from presentation to the start of therapy was, however, significantly shorter in sustained viral responders (43 +/- 31 days) than in relapsers or non-responders (88 +/- 52 days) (P = 0.016).CONCLUSIONS:
Early treatment of acute hepatitis C virus with interferon prevents chronicity. A short waiting time from presentation to treatment appears as the most relevant predictive factor for sustained response.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Antiviral Agents
/
Interferon-alpha
/
Hepatitis C
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Aliment Pharmacol Ther
Journal subject:
FARMACOLOGIA
/
GASTROENTEROLOGIA
/
TERAPIA POR MEDICAMENTOS
Year:
2004
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Belgium