CHRONIC VIRAL-HEPATITIS AND INTERFERON - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS IN 60 PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C AND INTRACELLULAR MECHANISMS

Interferons exhibit antiviral and immunomodulatory properties. Antivir al effects appear mainly mediated via 2'5' oligoadenylate synthetase a nd protein kinase proteins which inhibit viral components synthesis. I nterferons also influence the immune system through various mechanism among whom an increased expression of HLA class I antigens on hepatocy te plasma menbrane and the promotion of natural killer cell activity l eading to the clearance of infected hepatocytes. We report the results of various alpha interferon therapeutic regimens in 60 patients with chronic hepatitis C. In our series, 20 patients (33%) achieved a compl ete response but 78% of them relapsed after therapy withdrawal. Predic tors of good response include young age, low serum ALT levels and mild liver injury. On the contrary, cirrhosis is associated with a poorer response.