BETA-INTERFERON THERAPY FOR CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C IN PATIENTS WITH HEMOPHILIA AND OTHER HEMORRHAGIC DISORDERS

Beta interferon therapy was given to seven chronic hepatitis C patient s with haemophilia or other haemorrhagic disorders who had received cl otting factor replacement therapy. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT ) levels ranged from 82 to 275 UL(-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA ranged from 10(6) to 10(9) copies mL(-1). HCV-genotypes were I + II in one patient, II in one, II + III in four and IV in one. Patients rece ived 6 mega units (MU) daily of natural type beta interferon by intrav enous infusion for 6 weeks. In three of seven patients, the protocol w as modified to intermittent administration because neutrocytopenia (un der 500 x 10(6) L(-1)) developed in two patients and thrombocytopenia (under 50 x 10(9) L(-1)) was observed in one during treatment. No modi fication was necessary with regard to daily and total dose. All patien ts received administration without any haemorrhagic complications. Six of seven patients showed improvement in serum ALT levels, and one of the patients showed normalization of ALT levels for 6 months after tre atment. HCV-RNA disappeared in four patients by the end of treatment, although no one remained negative 6 months after treatment. The result s of our study were similar to those reported in previous papers which described the use of alpha interferon in haemophiliacs. The reason no ne of the patients showed sustained loss of HCV-RNA after therapy migh t be associated with high HCV-RNA levels, characteristics of the HCV-g enotype and prolonged duration of the disease.