STN BIOSIS Previews/RN Sample Record
A N
94:106294 BIOSIS
D N 97119294
T I
Treatment of chronic hepatitis D with interferon alfa-2a.
A U
Farci P; Mandas A; Coiana A; Lai M E; Desmet V; Van Eyken P; Gobi Y; Caruso L; Scaccabarozzi S; et al
C S
Hepatitis Viruses Section, Lab. Infectious Diseases, Natl. Inst. Allergy Infectious Diseases, Natl. Inst.
Health, Build. 7, Rm 200, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
S O
New England Journal of Medicine 330 (2). 1994. 88-94. ISSN: 0028-4793
L A
E n g l i s h
P R
Biological Abstracts Vol. 097 Iss. 006 Ref. 069169
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Background and Methods. Chronic hepatitis D is a severe and rapidly progressive liver disease for
which no therapy has been proved effective. To evaluate the efficacy of treatment with interferon, we
studied 42 patients with chronic hepatitis D who were randomly assigned to receive either 9 million
or 3 million units of recombinant interferon alfa-2a (three times a week for 48 weeks) or no
treatment. Results. By the end of the treatment period, serum alanine aminotransferase values had
become normal in 10 of 14 patients receiving 9 million units (71 percent), as compared with 4 of 14
treated with 3 million units (29 percent, P = 0.029) and 1 of 13 untreated controls (8 percent, P =
0.001). Seven patients treated with the higher dose of interferon (50 percent) had a complete
response (normal levels of alanine aminotransferase and no detectable serum hepatitis delta virus
(HDV) RNA), as compared with three of those who received the lower dose (21 percent, P = 0.1 18),
and none of the controls (P = 0.004). Treatment with 9 million units of interferon was associated
with a marked improvement in the histologic findings (reduced periportal necrosis and portal and
lobular inflammation), whereas in the untreated controls there was considerable histologic
deterioration. In 5 of the 10 patients treated with 9 million units of interferon whose alanine
aminotransferase values became normal, the biochemical responses persisted for up to 4 years
(mean, 39 months), but the effects of treatment on viral replication were not sustained. In contrast,
none of those who received 3 million units and none of the untreated controls had a sustained
biochemical or virologic response. Conclusions. In about half the patients with chronic hepatitis D
treated with high doses of interferon alfa-2a (9 million units three times a week for 48 weeks),
the serum alanine aminotransferase level becomes normal, HDV RNA becomes undetectable in
serum, and there is histologic improvement. However, a relapse is common after treatment
has been stopped.
S T
RESEARCH ARTICLE; HUMAN; INTERFERON-ALPHA-2A; ANTIVIRAL-DRUG; HORMONE-DRUG;
ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE; VIRAL RNA; POST-TREATMENT RELAPSE
R N
9000-86-6 (ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE)
C C
Clinical Biochemistry; General Methods and Applications *10006
Biochemical Studies-Nucleic Acids, Purines and Pyrimidines 10062
Biochemical Studies-Proteins, Peptides and Amino Acids 10064
Biochemical Studies-Carbohydrates 10068
Enzymes-Physiological Studies *10808
Pathology, General and Miscellaneous-Inflammation and Inflammatory Disease *12508
Pathology, General and Miscellaneous-Therapy *12512
Metabolism-Proteins, Peptides and Amino Acids *13012
Metabolism-Nucleic Acids, Purines and Pyrimidines *13014
Digestive System-Pathology *14006
Blood, Blood-Forming Organs and Body Fluids-Lymphatic Tissue and Reticuloendothelial System
* 1 5 0 0 8
Endocrine System-General *17002
Pharmacology-Clinical Pharmacology *22005
Pharmacology-Digestive System *22014
Pharmacology-Endocrine System *22016
Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses 31500
Medical and Clinical Microbiology-Virology *36006
Chemotherapy-Antiviral Agents *38506
B C
Animal Viruses-General 02600
Hominidae 86215
3 2
S a m p l e R e c o r d s b y S e a r c h S y s t e m
