EFFICACY OF ALPHA-2B VERSUS LYMPHOBLASTOID INTERFERON IN TREATMENT OFCHRONIC HEPATITIS-C - A RANDOMIZED TRIAL

Although interferon (IFN) is the basis for treatment of chronic hepati tis C (CHC), the influence of type in the response remains unknown. Th e aim of this trial was to determine the effectiveness and side effect s of alpha-2b IFN when it was compared to lymphoblastoid IFN. One hund red and fifteen patients with CHC were randomized in two groups: group A (58 patients) was treated with 3 MU of alpha-2b IFN 3 times a week for 6 months and group B (57 patients), treated with lymphoblastoid IF N at the same dosage and time. Treatment was abondoned by one patient in group A and two in group B, because of intolerable adverse effects. Fourteen patients (6 in group A, 8 in group B) abandoned the treatmen t for other reasons. Biochemical response in groups A and B were respe ctively: no response, 24 (47%) in group A vs 36 (76%) in group B; rela pse, 18 (35%) vs 6 (13%) and sustained response, 9 (18%) vs 5 (11%); w ith significant difference (p < 0.01) because a high proportion existe d of no response in group B and relapse in group A. The absence of HCV -RNA in serum 6 months after the treatment had finished presented no d ifference between either groups: 7 (15%) in group A vs 5 (11%) in grou p B. Biopsies before and post-treatment were compared and no significa nt differences were found among patients that had improved their hepat ic lesion (22% in group A vs 23% in group B), those that had no change (51% vs 38%) and those that had worsened (27% vs 38%). Post-treatment Knodell index was not different in either groups: 8.6 +/- 3 in group A and 8.3 +/- 3 in group B. Side effects were not relevant and similar in both groups. In conclusion, both IFNs show the same effectiveness for treatment of CHC when sustained response was considered. Howewer, relapses were observed more frequently in group A and no response in g roup B. These differences do no justify the change of IFN to improve t he response in treatment of CHC.