Me. Ellis et al., CHRONIC NON-A, NON-B-HEPATITIS COMPLICATED BY END-STAGE RENAL-FAILURETREATED WITH RECOMBINANT INTERFERON-ALPHA, Journal of hepatology, 18(2), 1993, pp. 210-216
Chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis occurs in 50% of Saudi patients with en
d-stage renal failure and requires long-term hemodialysis since it is
a contraindication to renal transplantation. Thirteen patients with bi
ochemical and histological documented chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis (
11 with HCV antibodies) entered a double-blind placebo controlled cros
s-over study, in which Roferon A 3 MU or placebo were administered sub
cutaneously 3 times weekly after hemodialysis for 6 months. The mean A
LT fell significantly from pretreatment levels of 74.7 (95% confidence
interval (CI) 54.7, 92.5) (13 patients in the 6-month run-in period)
and 66.8 (CI 47.7, 85.8) (7 patients in the run-in period + 6 patients
in the placebo period) (difference NS) to 37.6 (CI 21.0, 54.2) during
interferon treatment (P < 0.005). In 10/13 patients (77%) ALT levels
became normal. In the 6-month follow-up period immediately after thera
py, the mean ALT was 45.2 (CI 28.0, 62.0). Although this change was no
t significant (P = 0.49), only 7 of these 10 patients sustained bioche
mical remission in the 6-month follow-up period. The corresponding tot
al Histological Activity Index improved from 8.9 (CI 7.5, 10.3), 8.9 (
CI 7.2, 10.7) (difference NS) to 6.2 (CI 3.9, 8.5) (P < 0.05; P = 0.05
2, respectively). Intralobular inflammation and periportal inflammatio
n showed the most significant changes. Five of 13 (39%) and 2/13 patie
nts (15%) had complete resolution of piecemeal necrosis and intralobul
ar inflammation, respectively. Toxic effects of interferon were mild,
early and self-limiting. Interferon is effective in controlling bioche
mical and histological manifestation of chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis
complicating endstage renal failure in Saudi patients on long-term ma
intenance haemodialysis.