TREATMENT OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C WITH INTERFERON ALFA-N3 - A MULTICENTER, RANDOMIZED, OPEN-LABEL TRIAL

We studied the antiviral effectiveness and safety of interferon alfa-n 3, a natural alpha interferon which contains multiple interferon speci es, in the treatment of previously untreated patients with chronic hep atitis C. Seventy-seven patients were randomized to receive either 1.0 , 2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 million units (MU) of interferon alf-an3 three tim es a week for 24 weeks and were then followed for an additional 24 wee ks. At the end of therapy, 67% of patients in the 10 MU group normaliz ed serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and 59% had no hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA detected by polymerase chain reaction. At the end of t he follow-up period, 44% of patients in the 10 MU group maintained nor mal ALT, and 24% had nondetectable HCV RNA, Lower doses were much less effective, Interferon alfa-n3 was well tolerated and no patient devel oped neutralizing anti-interferon antibodies during or after the treat ment period. Interferon alfa-n3 appears to be effective against hepati tis C virus and deserves further study in larger randomized controlled trials.