INTERFERON THERAPY FOR JAPANESE HEMOPHILIACS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C

Eight Japanese hemophiliacs with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) received in terferon (IFN) therapy and four of them (50%) responded completely. No n-responders included 3 double-infected patients: 1 with hepatitis B v irus (HBV) and 2 with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). In one o f the patients with HIV-1 double infection, the absolute number of CD4 (+) lymphocytes decreased during IFN therapy. These findings suggest t hat hemophiliac patients with CHC can respond well to IFN therapy, but in patients who are double-infected with HBV and HIV-1, the indicatio n of IFN therapy should be considered seriously.