ALPHA-INTERFERON IN TREATMENT OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C VIRAL-INFECTION (CHCV) - PILOT-STUDY OF 18 PATIENTS

Eighteen patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection (CHCV) were treated with three million units of interferon (IFN) three times a we ek for a minimum of six months. Four (22.2%) had completely responded, two (11.1%) had partial response and the rest (eight or 44.4%) did no t show any evidence of response. After stopping treatment, patients wh o had a complete or partial response developed a relapse during the fo llow-up period. Few reversible adverse effects of treatment were repor ted in more than half of the patients. So, we conclude that three mill ion units of IFN three times weekly is not recommended for treating pa tients with CHCV. Perhaps a larger dose of five to six million units s hould be tried and for a longer duration.