SHORT-COURSE OF INTERFERON-BETA FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C - A MULTICENTER TRIAL FOR EVALUATING HOST IMMUNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS

Host immunological parameters have not been evaluated in the response to IFN-beta treatment for chronic hepatitis C. In this study, two diff erent treatment regimens of IFN-beta for chronic hepatitis C were eval uated, and serum hepatitis C virus RNA levels were quantified by multi cyclic reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In addition, t wo host immunological parameters were assayed during treatment. One hu ndred and fifteen patients with chronic hepatitis C received 6 million units of IFN-beta daily for 6 weeks or daily for 2 weeks, followed by twice a week for 14 weeks (total 16 weeks) intravenously. The efficac y of treatment was significantly correlated with initial viral load, w hich was confirmed by multivariate analysis. No correlation was noted between response to therapy and host immunological parameters. These f indings suggest that initial hepatitis C virus levels are one of the i mportant factors in determining the response to IFN-beta.