DURABILITY OF SEROLOGICAL REMISSION IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C TREATED WITH INTERFERON-ALPHA-2B

Objective: We assessed the long-term effect of a course of interferon therapy on the biochemical and virological markers of Canadian patient s with chronic hepatitis C. Methods: Thirty-six patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with a median total dose of interferon-alpha- 2B of 181.0 million U (range 109.0-384.0 million U) and were followed for a median of 37.2 months (range 12.0-94.2 months) after completing treatment. All patients received an initial 16 wk of interferon at a d ose of 3 million U three times weekly; this was followed by either no further interferon or by 8 wk more at doses ranging from 1.5 to 10.0 m illion U three times weekly. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels were measured before interferon the rapy, 6 months after treatment, and at the end of follow-up for each p atient. HCV RNA was analyzed by branched DNA 1.0 assay and, if undetec table, by polymerase chain reaction. HCV genotyping was performed on s erum samples. Results: Five (13.6%) of the 36 patients had a sustained treatment response, defined as normal ALT and undetectable viremia 6 months after treatment. All five patients remained in serological remi ssion to the end of their follow-up, a median of 48.2 months (range 23 .0-66.2 months) after interferon therapy. Responders were similar to n onresponders in age, gender, initial ALT and serum HCV RNA levels, pre treatment histology, and total dose of interferon received. Conclusion s: In patients with chronic hepatitis C, 13.6% had normal ALT and unde tectable serum HCV RNA 6 months after finishing interferon therapy. Th ese patients remained in serological remission to the end of their fol low-up, 48.2 months after interferon therapy. (C) 1998 by Am. Coll. of Gastroenterology.