A prospective controlled study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and tolerence of alpha interferon in 37 patients with biopsy proven chronic hepatitis, serologically confirmed HCV and/or HBsAg+ve serum. Patients were
classified to receive Alpha interferon, 3 MU subcutaneous three times weekly for 6 months (group-I, 15 patients) or for 4 months only (group-H, 10 patients). A control group-Ill (12 patients) received no INF treatment for 6 months.
Normalization of serum transaminases occured in 33.3%, 20%, 0% in group-I, II and III respectively. Neutrophils decreased significantly only in group-I. These data suggest that INF treatment may favourably be effective in
the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis depending on the duration and dose of treatment, the longer the duration of INF therapy, the better the results. Yet, the optimal regimen has to be determined in further studies. |
