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Maintenance therapy with gradual reduction of the interferon dose over one year improves histological response in patients with chronic hepatitis C with biochemical response: results of a randomized trial
Background/Aims : Our aim was to assess whether histological response was improved by continuing interferon-alpha (IFN) treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) with a biochemical response and no viral clearance after a usual IFN treatment. Methods : Fifty-seven patients with normal alan...
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Published in: | Journal of hepatology 2001-08, Vol.35 (2), p.272-278 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Background/Aims
: Our aim was to assess whether histological response was improved by continuing interferon-alpha (IFN) treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) with a biochemical response and no viral clearance after a usual IFN treatment.
Methods
: Fifty-seven patients with normal alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) levels and positive HCV RNA at the end of a 1 year IFN treatment were randomly assigned to either group 1 (
n
=28) where IFN was stopped, or group 2 (
n
=29) where IFN was continued for 1 more year with gradual reduction of the dose to keep serum ALAT activity below the upper limit of normal. Liver biopsies were obtained before, and then 6 months after the end of treatment.
Results
: Knodell's index improved between paired biopsies in group 2 (8.2
±2.4 vs. 5.5
±2.1), but not in group 1 (8
±2.3 vs. 6.5
±2). In post-treatment biopsies, the METAVIR activity score was significantly lower in group 2 than in group 1 (0.7
±0.2 vs. 1.1
±0.3,
P |
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ISSN: | 0168-8278 1600-0641 |
DOI: | 10.1016/S0168-8278(01)00110-6 |