EFFECTS OF INTERFERON-BETA ON NON-A, NON-B ACUTE HEPATITIS - A PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMIZED, CONTROLLED-DOSE STUDY

Background/Aims: Non-A, non-B acute hepatitis progresses to a higher incidence of chronicity and hepatocellular carcinoma. To avoid the development of chronic liver disease, resolution of acute hepatitis C might be most effective. The aim was to establish the effect of interferon in disturbing progression to chronicity and to determine the most appropriate treatment protocol. Methods: Ninety-seven acute non-A, non-B hepatitis cases were randomly assigned to six different protocols and treated with 8.4-336 MU of interferon; 90 cases were finally completely analyzed. Titers of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and HCV genotypes were determined. Results: Seventy-four cases were positive for second-generation anti-HCV. Of these, 65 (89%) were positive for HCV RNA. In these 65 cases, the resolution rate was 32%, and this rate was dependent on the total treatment dosage. Only the group treated with 336 MU) showed a high (83%; 10 12) resolution rate; the other five groups had 0%-38% resolution. Conclusions: Interferon treatment for acute hepatitis C could be regarded as a "vaccinelike" therapy by preventing the development of the virus carrier state. © 1994.