MULTICENTER RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF RECOMBINANT INTERFERON-ALFA-2B IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE NON-A, NON-B TYPE-C HEPATITIS AFTER TRANSFUSION

To assess whether the risk of chronic disease in patients with acute n on-A, non-B/type C (NANB/C) hepatitis after transfusion could be reduc ed by treatment with interferon, patients were randomised to receive 3 million units interferon (IFN) alfa-2b three times a week for three m onths or no therapy. At the end of treatment, IFN had significantly re duced the number of patients with abnormal alanine aminotransferase ac tivities compared with untreated patients but this difference was not maintained during a 15 month follow up. Treatment with IFN alfa-2b was considered safe and was well tolerated.