Thymosin-alpha 1 plus interferon-alpha for naive patients with chronic hepatitis C: results of a randomized controlled pilot trial.
J Viral Hepat
; 11(1): 69-73, 2004 Jan.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-14738560
ABSTRACT
In this pilot study, we evaluated the efficacy of interferon-alpha (IFN) plus Thymosin-alpha 1 (TA1) to that of IFN alone in naive patients with chronic hepatitis C. Twenty-two patients were randomized to receive interferon-alpha 2b (3 million units three times a week) plus thymosin-alpha l (900 microg/m2 body surface area) and 19 received interferon-alpha 2b alone at the same dose. Patients were treated for 6 months and followed up for another 6 months. Biochemical (alanine aminotransferase values) and virological (hepatitis C virus-RNA) responses to treatment were determined. Combination treatment showed significantly higher efficacy than monotherapy in achieving virological end-of-treatment response (P = 0.03). At 6-month follow up, the sustained biochemical and virological response was not different between the two groups. Our results indicate that the immune modulator TA1 may enhance the end-of-treatment response in naive patients with chronic hepatitis C. Higher doses and/ore more prolonged courses as well as the association with new interferon formulation such as pegylated interferons could improve the sustained response rates to this treatment.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Antivirales
/
Timosina
/
Adyuvantes Inmunológicos
/
Interferón-alfa
/
Hepatitis C Crónica
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
Límite:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Viral Hepat
Asunto de la revista:
GASTROENTEROLOGIA
Año:
2004
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Italia