IgM antibody against the HCV 'core' structural protein (c22) and alanine amino-transferase (ALT) were measured in 23 patients with chronic hepatitis C who underwent therapy with interferon-alpha 2a (IFN alpha 2a).
Combined treatment with interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C in patients with a previous non-response or non-sustained response to interferon alone.
Usefulness of simple assays for serum concentration of hepatitis C virus RNA and HCV genotype in predicting the response of patients with chronic hepatitis C to interferon alpha 2a therapy.
To assess the efficacy and safety of therapy with interferon alpha we conducted a prospective study where 14 cadaveric KT recipients with chronic hepatitis C received recombinant interferon alpha-2b (IFNa) 3 million units three times weekly (scheduled) for 6 months (group A).
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to examine expression of interferon-alpha (IFN A) genes in general and the expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding the subtypes IFN-alpha-2 and IFN-alpha-4 in blood and liver biopsy samples from patients with chronic hepatitis C or hepatitis non-A, non-B (HC/HNANB) infection entered into a trial of IFN-alpha-2a therapy.
We conclude that recombinant alpha-2a-interferon is clinically effective in patients with chronic hepatitis C. However, most responders in this trial of low-dose interferon relapsed upon cessation of treatment.
Interferon-alpha (total dose 516 x 10(6) units) or interferon-alpha 2b (774 x 10(6) units) was given to 67 patients with chronic hepatitis C, of whom 56 had the cold activation of complement.
Preferential virological response to interferon-alpha 2a in patients with chronic hepatitis C infected by virus genotype 3a and exhibiting a low gamma-GT/ALT ratio.
In the third Australian multicentre hepatitis C trial, Aushep-3, we examined the efficacy and tolerability of an intensive 24-week course of interferon-alpha 2a in Child-Pugh grade A patients with chronic hepatitis C and cirrhosis.
To evaluate the potential benefit of ursodeoxycholic acid in combination with interferon-alpha for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, we conducted a prospective, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial comparing the combination therapy of interferon-alpha 2b and ursodeoxycholic acid with interferon alone.
Interferon-alpha, a cytokine with immunostimulatory and anti-viral properties, has become the therapy of choice for patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.