TY - JOUR
TI - RECOMBINANT HUMAN INTERFERON-ALFA-2B TREATMENT FOR ACUTE
NON-A-HEPATITIS, NON-B-HEPATITIS
AU - TASSOPOULOS, NC
AU - KOUTELOU, MG
AU - PAPATHEODORIDIS, G and
AU - POLYCHRONAKI, H
AU - DELLADETSIMA, I
AU - GIANNIKAKIS, T
AU - TODOULOS, A
AU - and TOLIOPOULOS, A
AU - HATZAKIS, A
JO - Gut Pathogens
PY - 1993
VL - 34
TODO - 2, S
SP - S130-S132
PB - BRITISH MED JOURNAL PUBL GROUP
SN - 1757-4749
TODO - 10.1136/gut.34.2_Suppl.S130
TODO - null
TODO - To assess the safety and possible efficacy of recombinant human
interferon alfa-2b in preventing the development of chronic hepatitis,
24 adults (eight men, 16 women) with acute non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis
were recruited to a pilot study. Half of the cases were parenterally
transmitted and half were community acquired. Twelve patients received 3
million units (MU) interferon three times weekly subcutaneously for six
weeks and the remaining 12 patients received no treatment.
Anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) was detected in 14 (58.3%) of the 24
patients. The alanine aminotransferase activity returned to normal in
nine of 12 interferon alfa-2b treated patients and six of 12 controls by
week 52. Interferon alfa-2b was well tolerated, even in jaundiced
patients, who only complained of mild flu like syndrome during the first
week of treatment. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that
interferon alfa-2b may help prevent progression to chronic hepatitis
(interferon alfa-2b 25%) upsilon controls 50%), particularly in
anti-HCV negative cases (interferon alfa-2b none of six upsilon controls
two of four). A randomised, double blind placebo-controlled trial is
required, however, to substantiate these results further.
ER -