TY - JOUR
T1 - Effectiveness of interferon treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and normal aminotransferase levels
AU - Ohmiya, M.
AU - Hayashi, J.
AU - Ueno, K.
AU - Furusyo, N.
AU - Sawayama, Y.
AU - Kawakami, Y.
AU - Kinukawa, N.
AU - Kashiwagi, S.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - To determine the effects of interferon treatment, we studied 77 Japanese patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Of 77 patients, 37 were given natural interferon-α for 24 weeks, and 40 not given interferon acted as controls. Serum samples were tested for HCV RNA and genotypes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HCV RNA levels were measured by competitive PCR. Of 37 treated patients, 11 (29.7%) had sustained elimination throughout a six-month follow-up, while HCV RNA was not eliminated in any untreated patients. At 24 months, the number of patients with elevated ALT was not significantly different between treated (13.5%) and untreated patients (15%). Interferon eliminates HCV RNA in patients with normal ALT without severe side effects. The natural history of HCV infection should be clarified so that the interferon treatment regimen can be tailored to the needs of each patient.
AB - To determine the effects of interferon treatment, we studied 77 Japanese patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Of 77 patients, 37 were given natural interferon-α for 24 weeks, and 40 not given interferon acted as controls. Serum samples were tested for HCV RNA and genotypes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HCV RNA levels were measured by competitive PCR. Of 37 treated patients, 11 (29.7%) had sustained elimination throughout a six-month follow-up, while HCV RNA was not eliminated in any untreated patients. At 24 months, the number of patients with elevated ALT was not significantly different between treated (13.5%) and untreated patients (15%). Interferon eliminates HCV RNA in patients with normal ALT without severe side effects. The natural history of HCV infection should be clarified so that the interferon treatment regimen can be tailored to the needs of each patient.
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U2 - 10.1023/A:1005502816216
DO - 10.1023/A:1005502816216
M3 - Article
C2 - 11117566
AN - SCOPUS:0033731762
VL - 45
SP - 1953
EP - 1958
JO - Digestive Diseases and Sciences
JF - Digestive Diseases and Sciences
SN - 0163-2116
IS - 10
ER -
