The effect of long term and high dose interferon treatment in Chronic hepatitis C

Abstract

The results of 43 interferon treatments of 35 patients (23 male, 12 female) are reported. The duration of the treatment was 6-18 months, the dose of interferon was 3x3-5 MU weekly. Complete response (HCV RNA became negative) was found in 11, relapse was observed in 3 patients. Partial response (transaminase levels became normal, or less than twice normal value, but patients remained HCV RNA positive) occurred in 23 cases, relapse was obeserved in 16. The therapy had no effect in 9 cases. The higher dose and longer term interferon therapy resulted in a higher rate of response to the treatment and a reduction in the number of relapses.

Treatment of Chronic HCV Infection in Special Populations

“…The effect of longer treatment as a principal can be seen in the initial studies with interferon monotherapy in which the SVR increased from 6% with 6 months of treatment to 12% with 12 months 5, 30. Additional evidence comes in the studies of patients treated with PEG interferon plus ribavirin for 6 months with relapse, who were then treated for 12 months with a 50% SVR.…”