Long‐term follow‐up of patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with α‐interferon

摘要: We reanalyzed the results of a pilot study recombinant α-interferon therapy for chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis in light recent discovery C virus and development diagnostic assays this agent. Stored serum samples from 10 patients treated between 1984 1986 were tested antibody to RNA before, during after therapy. In addition, current clinical, biochemical virological statuses these evaluated determine long-term effects interferon All had evidence infection, with viral RNA, or both markers detectable serum. Serum was found disappear seven eight whose aminotransferase levels became normal but remained present two who did not respond Levels decreased disappeared when aminotransferases fell rose subsequent elevation aminotransfrase relapses disease stopped. During follow-up 3 6 yr, undetectable six However, neither initial titers nor disappearance treatment predicted sustained response. Thus beneficial responses can occur are associated loss (HEPATOLOGY 1992;15:1013–1016).