LEUKOCYTE INTERFERON-ALPHA RETREATMENT FOR CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C PATIENTS PREVIOUSLY INTOLERANT TO OTHER INTERFERONS

The activity and tolerability of a retreatment cycle with leucocyte in terferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) (6 million units (MU) three times weekly fo r 12 months) was evaluated in a group of 22 hepatitis C patients who h ad been intolerant to a previous course of lymphoblastoid IFN-alpha. S even patients (31%) discontinued the new therapy owing to either a lac k of response (six patients) or to severe leucopenia tone patient). Fi fteen patients (68%) completed the la-month treatment: all had a bioch emical response and 10 (45%) also had disappearance of serum HCV RNA ( complete response). Mild adverse reactions (fever, headaches and diarr hoea) were seen in these patients during retreatment. After 12 months of follow-up, 11 patients (50%) still maintained the biochemical respo nse (long-term response!; seven of these patients (32%) were also nega tive for serum HCV RNA. Biochemical and complete responses, at the end of both treatment and follow-up, were similar to those seen with lymp hoblastoid IFN-alpha. The full dose of leucocyte IFN-alpha, when used in patients previously intolerant to the same dosage of lymphoblastoid IFN-alpha, was better tolerated: only one of the 15 patients who comp leted the 12-month treatment had a severe adverse event leading to wit hdrawal vs 22 of 68 patients treated with lymphoblastoid IFN-alpha. Fu rthermore, there were no manifestations of serological or clinical aut oimmunity caused by leucocyte IFN-alpha, even in patients with autoant ibodies associated with previous IFN therapy.