Interferon retreatment of nonresponders with HCV-RNA-positive chronic hepatitis C

Abstract

Interferon has been shown to be an effective treatment for some patients with chronic hepatitis C. In this study, the value of retreatment of nonresponders to interferon was investigated. Thirty-eight patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA-positive chronic hepatitis C who had been treated with beta-interferon but still showed an alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level > 50 KU upon completion of therapy were retreated with alpha-interferon. Eight patients (21.1%) had normalization of ALT levels for at least 6 months after the completion of retreatment. The factors related to normalization of ALT levels after interferon retreatment were studied. Of 16 patients with transient HCV-RNA negativity 1 month after the initial interferon therapy, 7 (43.8%) had a complete response, with normalization of ALT levels and undetectable HCV-RNA, more than 6 months after interferon retreatment. On the other hand, of the 22 patients with HCV-RNA activity 1 month after the initial interferon therapy, only 1 (4.5%) had a complete response. Multivariate analysis, using a multiple logistic model, indicated that a complete response to readministration of interferon was most strongly correlated to transient negative conversion for HCV-RNA after the initial course of treatment.