ISSN:
1435-5922
Keywords:
interferon-α
;
ursodeoxycholic acid
;
chronic hepatitis C
;
hepatitis C virus
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The efficacy of interferon-α therapy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C is still limited. A combination therapy of interferon-α with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) was tested for its efficacy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C by a randomized controlled study. Eighty consecutive Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C were randomly divided into two groups: one group was treated with interferon-α (group A,n=40) and the other with a combination of interferon-α and UDCA (group B,n=40). In both groups, human interferon-α (6 million units per day) was intramuscularly injected daily for 2 weeks and then three times a week for 22 weeks: this 24-week period was followed by 24 weeks of observation. In group B, UDCA was also administered, daily at a dose of 600mg orally, from the beginning of the interferon therapy and administration was continued for 48 weeks. The rates for ALT normalization and clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) viremia at the end of the 24-week interferon therapy were similar for groups A and B (58% vs 60% and 55% vs 48%, respectively). At the end of the 24-week follow-up, the sustained normalization rates for ALT levels for the two groups were not different (35% vs 43%), while the rate of clearance was higher in group B (40%) than in group A (23%), but the difference was not significant (P=0.14). The sustained complete response, i.e., HCV RNA negativity at the end of the follow-up, as well as the maintenance of ALT normalization during the follow-up period, was more frequent in group B (38%) than in group A (18%) although the difference was not significantP=0.08). The rate of HCV reactivation after interferon was discontinued was significantly lower in group B (16%) than in group A (59%) (P〈0.01). Although this combination therapy did not lead to a sufficiently sustained complete response, it could serve as adjuvant antiviral therapy when a suitable dosage and administration period are determined.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01213297
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