TREATMENT OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C WITH HUM AN LYMPHOBLASTOID INTERFERON - LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP

Objectives: A randomized controlled trial was set up to assess the eff ect of two different therapy regimens with lymphoblastoid interferon o n the treatment and follow-up of patients with chronic C hepatitis. Me thods: Eighty-five patients with chronic hepatitis C were randomized i nto two treatment groups (n = 30 respectively) and one control group ( no treatment: n = 25). In one treatment group patients received three million units of cr-lymphoblastoid interferon. The other received six million units. Results: A rapid decline in both alanine aminotransfera se and aspartataminotransferase levels was seen in most treated patien ts (a complete response in 51% from group A and 55% from group B; part ial response 29% from group A, 25% from group B). In five partial resp onders and six complete responders from group A and in seven partial r esponders and six complete responders in group B serum aminotransferas e levels returned to baseline values in the follow-up. No change in se rum bilirubin, albumin, IgG and prothrombin time during interferon tre atment were seen. The histologic staging remained unchanged throughout the entire study. Conclusion: alpha-interferon treatment improves the clinical picture, biochemical parameters and histologic pattern in a large percentage of patients with hepatitis C. Long-term remission was seen in only 37% of treated patients. Using six million units of alph a-interferon has not proven to be significantly better than three mill ion units. Protracted treatment for nine months seems to increase the percentage of patients in biochemical and histologic remission.