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Evaluation of Response to Interferon Therapy in Chronic Hepatitis B and Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Year: 2001

Type: article

Abstract: Interferons (IFN) have a wide range of biological activities in humans. Recently, interferon-α (IFN-α) has been used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis cases. This study was done to evaluate the efficacy of IFN-α 2a therapy in chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C. A total of 74 patients, 48 of whom were diagnosed as chronic hepatitis B (39 men, 9 women) and 26 as chronic hepatitis C (12 men, 14 women) were enrolled. Hepatitis B cases were classified as chronic hepatitis based on HBsAg and HBeAg/anti-HBe positivity and an ALT level 1.5 times higher than normal during last 6 months. In all cases, HBV DNA was also positive by qualitative PCR. In all chronic hepatitis C cases, HCV RNA was positive by qualitative PCR, anti-HCV was positive and the ALT level was 1.5 times higher than normal. Liver biopsies of all patients clearly indicated chronic active hepatitis. IFN-α 2a (Roferon A-Roche Basel-Switzerland) was injected at a dose of 6 million unit three times a week for 6 months to chronic hepatitis B patients. For hepatitis C patients, initially 6 million units three times a week for 6 months and then 3 million units three times a week for 6 months were given. At the end of IFN-α 2a therapy, virological, biochemical responses were found to be 60.4%, 52.0% respectively and sustained response was 22.9% in chronic hepatitis B. In chronic hepatitis C patients, virological and biochemical responses were 65.3%, and 46.1% respectively whereas sustained response was 26.9%. During IFN-α-2a therapy, major side effects were fever, myalgia, and artralgia, which were tolerated by all patients. In conclusion, Interferon therapy was found to be effective to the chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C patients.

Source: DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)

Authors: Hakan LEBLEBİCİOĞLU, Mustafa SÜNBÜL, Kemalettin AYDIN, Bilgehan AYGEN, Ayhan AKBULUT, Salih HOŞOĞLU, İlyas DÖKMETAŞ, Sercan ULUSOY

Institutions: Ondokuz Mayıs University, Karadeniz Technical University, Erciyes University, Fırat University, Dicle University, Sivas Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi, Ege University

Language: English

Topic: Hepatitis C virus research

Subfield: Hepatology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W4388891501

FWCI:

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