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INTERFERON-GAMMA, INTERFERON-ALPHA AND RIBAVIRIN IN COMBINED THERAPY OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS C PATIENTS

http://www.abstractserver.com/easl2009/planner/sp.php?go=abstract&action=abstract_iplanner&absno=786&

T. Sologub1, E. Esaulenko2, I. Volchek3
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Mechnikov Medical Academy, 2Research Institute of Influenza RAMS, 3Terra Medica Ltd, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Backgroud and aim: Despite the antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) including interferon (IFN) alpha and ribavirin has been considered to be a standard, some patients still remain non-responders. The efficacy of IFN-gamma in some infectious and non-infectious diseases treatment has been shown recently. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha and ribavirin in combined therapy of CHC patients.
Patients and methods: There were 150 CHC patients aged from 18 to 50 years under our observation with moderate or high viral load, at 75% of patients HCV genotype 1 was found. All the patients were randomized for three groups (50 patients in each). First group patients were administered IFN-gamma 500 000 IU and IFN-alpha2b 3 mln. IU i/m three times a week, as well as second group received the same daily therapy. Third group patients were administered IFN-gamma 500 000 IU and IFN-alpha2b 3 mln. IU i/m three times a week with daily body weight ribavirin during three months.
Results: Clinical improvement was evident in all patients: normalization of ALT, serum bilirubin, cholesterol and alkaline phosphotase levels were shown. 34% of the first group patients, 26% of the second group patients and 96% of the third group patients had developed end treatment virological response. No severe side effects were apparent in all patients.
Conclusion: These data suggest that including IFN-gamma in the standard scheme of CHC therapy by IFN-alpha and ribavirin significantly increased end treatment virological response and well-tolerated.