LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENT OF HEPATIC-FIBROSIS IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C TREATED WITH INTERFERON-ALPHA

We examined the changes of hepatic fibrosis for several years followin g interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) treatment in patients with chronic hepa titis C. This study included 37 complete responders (CR) and 37 non-re sponders (NR) to IFN-alpha treatment. The period of post-treatment was 6-50 months. The scores for periportal necrosis, intralobular inflamm ation, portal inflammation and fibrosis before and after treatment wer e compared. Furthermore, the serum fibrosis markers (hyaluronic acid ( HA), N-terminal amino peptide of type III procollagen (PIIIP), Type IV collagen) before and after treatment were compared in 11 CR and 14 NR . Tn the CR, the scores for histological findings were significantly d ecreased compared to those before treatment. Especially, in five of th e 37 CR, the hepatic fibrosis disappeared and improved to almost norma l after treatment. In the CR, the serum levels of HA and PIIIP after t reatment were also significantly decreased compared to those before tr eatment. In the NR, however, the grade of fibrosis after treatment was more severe than that before treatment. These findings suggest that l iver histology containing hepatic fibrosis is improved in patients who are continuously negative for hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA through sev eral years after IFN-alpha treatment. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Irelan d Ltd. All rights reserved.