Treatment of type C chronic active hepatitis with interferon-alpha 2a. Treatment duration does not influence biochemical remission but does decrease the relapse rate.

Abstract: Few data are as yet available on the influence of interferon (IFN) treatment duration on biochemical remission and posttreatment relapse of chronic type C hepatitis. We investigated whether duration of recombinant IFN-alpha 2a treatment influences the remission and relapse rates in type C chronic active hepatitis (CAH). Sixty-two CAH patients were randomly assigned to receive 3 MU of i.m. recombinant IFN-alpha 2a three times per week for either 3 (group A, 32 patients) or 6 (group B, 30 patients) months. A complete biochemical remission was cumulatively observed in 62.5 and 63.3% of patients in groups A and B, respectively (p = NS). One and two patients in groups A and B, respectively, showed a biochemical relapse during treatment. In all cases biochemical remission was observed within the first 3 months of treatment. Among responders, 84.2 and 52.9% (p = 0.04) cumulatively had relapses in groups A and B, respectively. We conclude that IFN treatment duration does not influence the biochemical remission rate in type C CAH, but lowers the relapse rate of those who are treated for a longer period. The IFN treatment should be stopped if the patient is a nonresponder after 3 months of treatment. In responders, treatment should be continued for at least 6 months.