Search results for "INTERFERON-ALPHA"
showing 10 items of 211 documents
Does an 'autoimmune' profile affect the clinical profile of chronic hepatitis C? An Italian multicentre survey.
2004
SUMMARY. Nonorgan-specific autoantibodies (NOSA) are common in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. It is unclear whether serological markers of autoimmunity segregate in a cohort of cases with more severe liver damage. We assessed the relationship between NOSA and demographic, biochemical and histological features in 502 subjects with anti-HCV positive, HCV-RNA positive, HBsAg negative chronic hepatitis consecutively referred to four Italian liver units. Percutaneous liver biopsy was performed in all subjects. A single pathologist scored the biopsies using histology activity index classification. The overall prevalence of positivity for any NOSA was 36.9%. Antinuclear antibod…
Unchanged plasma levels of dimethylarginines and nitric oxide in chronic hepatitis C.
2008
Previous studies have shown that asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and nitric oxide (NO) play a prominent role in liver dysfunction. The objective of this study was to determine whether plasma levels of ADMA, SDMA and NO are altered in patients with chronic hepatitis C.Plasma levels of ADMA, SDMA and NO (nitrite plus nitrate) were measured in 22 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 24 patients with sustained virologic response after treatment with peginterferon plus ribavirin. Seven healthy volunteers served as controls.Plasma levels of ADMA, SDMA and NO were not significantly different between groups: chronic hepatitis C, ADMA 0.55+/-0.06, SDMA 0.22+/-0…
Transfusion-associated chronic hepatitis C: alpha-n1 interferon for 6 vs. 12 months.
1996
Abstract Aims: To compare the long-term effects of brief and prolonged therapy with alpha-n 1 interferon for transfusion-associated chronic hepatitis C. Methods: One hundred and sixteen subjects (male/female 4868, mean age 46.9 years) were studied. Sixty patients were randomised to brief treatment (group 1: interferon 5 Mu/msq. t.i.w. for 2 months, then 3 Mu/msq. t.i.w. for 4 months), and 56 to prolonged treatment (group 2: interferon 5 Mu/msq. t.i.w. for 2 months, then 3 Mu/msq. t.i.w. for 10 months). All were followed for 12 months after stopping interferon. Results: The early response rate was 47.4% (Group 1 [45%], Group 2 [50%]). No "breakthrough" reactivations were observed. The early …
Peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin for naïve patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C: a randomized controlled trial
2004
We assessed the effectiveness and safety of an induction dose of peginterferon alfa-2b (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin for initial treatment of patients with genotype 1 chronic HCV infection in a randomized, controlled, multicenter trial.Three hundred and eleven naïve patients infected with genotype 1 and chronic hepatitis were randomly assigned to 48-week treatment with PEG-IFN once weekly (80-100 micrograms depending on body weight for 8 weeks, followed by 50 micrograms for the next 40 weeks), or standard interferon alfa-2b (IFN) 6 million units on alternate days, both in combination with ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day).PEG-IFN plus ribavirin significantly increased sustained virological response (…
Early discontinuation of ribavirin in HCV-2 and HCV-3 patients responding to Peg-interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin
2008
Guidelines for the treatment of patients infected with hepatitis C virus of genotypes 2 and 3 (HCV-2 and HCV-3, respectively) recommend a 24-week course of Peg-interferon (Peg-IFN) alpha-2a combined with ribavirin, despite 50% of patients in registration trials attaining a sustained virologic response (SVR) following Peg-IFN alpha-2a monotherapy. The aim of this study was to delineate patient characteristics that might help to identify individuals likely to benefit from ribavirin discontinuation. One hundred and forty-four HCV-2- and HCV-3-infected patients initiated Peg-IFN alpha-2a (180 microg/week) and ribavirin (1000 or 1200 mg/day); those with viral clearance at week 4 were randomized …
An open-safety study of dual antiviral therapy in real-world patients with chronic hepatitis C
2010
Purpose Treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C with alpha-interferon and ribavirin usually produces adverse events within the first 3 months. We aimed to assess safety and predictors of discontinuation or dose modification of these drugs. Methods Observational study of 312 patients with predominantly genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C treated openly along 5 years in a clinical practice setting. Results Eighty-four percent of patients experienced at least one adverse event (853 events in total, 3.3 per patient on average). Incidence rate was higher during the first 90 days and decreased thereafter (<5%). Discontinuation rates at 30 and 90 days and at end of treatment were 2, 4 and 8%, re…
Intravenous natural beta-interferon in white patients with chronic hepatitis C who are nonresponders to alpha-interferon.
1998
Objectives: α-Interferons (α-IFN) have been shown to be effective in the treatment of chronic viral C hepatitis, but their efficacy remains unsatisfactory. Recently natural β-interferon (β-IFN) administered by intravenous infusion has been used successfully. Methods: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous β-IFN administration we treated 20 patients with histologically proven chronic hepatitis C who were nonresponders to at least two previous courses of α-IFN treatment. All patients received 6 million units (MU) of natural human fibroblast β-IFN by drip infusion, 6 times per wk for 8 wk and were followed up for 6 months after suspension of treatment. Results: Five patients (25%) …
Individualized treatment duration for hepatitis C genotype 1 patients: a randomized controlled trial
2008
It was hypothesized that in hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 patients, variable treatment duration individualized by first undetectable HCV RNA is as effective as standard 48-week treatment. Patients (n_696) received peginterferon alfa-2a, 180 mg/week, or peginterferon alfa-2b, 1.5 mg/kg/week, plus ribavirin, 1000-1200 mg/day, for 48 weeks (standard, n _237) or for 24, 48, or 72 weeks if HCV-RNA–negative at weeks 4, 8, or 12, respectively (variable, n _ 459). Sustained virologic response (SVR) was achieved in 45.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 38.8-51.4] of the patients in the standard group and in 48.8% (CI 44.2-53.3) of the patients in the variable group (P _ 0.37). The percentages of …
Combined treatment of relapse of chronic hepatitis C with high-dose α2b interferon plus ribavirin for 6 or 12 months
2000
Abstract Background/Aims: Retreatment of relapses of chronic hepatitis C with a standard regimen of interferon plus ribavirin for 6 months obtains a sustained response in a minority of patients with high viraemia and genotype 1b . We aimed to assess whether increasing the interferon dose and prolonging the time of combined treatment may enhance the effectiveness, and also to evaluate the tolerability, and to identify the determinants of sustained response. Methods: Fifty subjects with chronic hepatitis C who had relapsed after one or more courses of α-interferon monotherapy were randomised to receive α 2 b interferon (6 MU tiw) plus ribavirin (1000–1200 mg daily) for 6 or 12 months. ALT nor…
The HEP-NET B/C co-infection trial: A prospective multicenter study to investigate the efficacy of pegylated interferon-α2b and ribavirin in patients…
2008
Background/Aims The efficacy of pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin in HBV/HCV co-infected patients is unknown. Methods Nineteen patients with chronic HBV/HCV co-infection (HBsAg and HCV-RNA positive; 10 HCV-genotype 1; 9 HCV-genotype 2 or 3) were included in this prospective multicenter pilot study. Baseline HBV-DNA was negative in 13 individuals. All patients received weight-adjusted PEG-IFN-α2b and ribavirin for 48 weeks. Results In the intent-to-treat analysis, a biochemical and an HCV-RNA response were observed in 12 and 14 patients, respectively (63% and 74%). At the end of the treatment as well as at the end of the follow-up the HCV-RNA response was 93% (14/15) in patients adher…