Recombinant interferon alfa therapy for chronic hepatitis C

Article Abstract:

Hepatitis C is a virus that is commonly transmitted by blood transfusions and is the primary cause of transfusion-associated hepatitis. Although often not progressive or symptomatic, this infection may progress from sporadic to acute and may ultimately result in chronic hepatitis. It is estimated that 10 to 15 percent of infected individuals with chronic hepatitis C eventually develop cirrhosis of the liver. No satisfactory therapy for hepatitis C has been developed to date. The effectiveness of therapy with recombinant interferon alfa, an antiviral agent, was examined. A group of 41 patients diagnosed with hepatitis C were broken down into two groups. The first group consisted of 21 individuals who were treated with two million units of interferon alfa three times a week for a 24-week period. Those in the second group were given placebos. Forty-eight percent of the subjects treated with interferon were completely relieved of their symptoms and three other patients showed a 50 percent reduction in mean aminotransferase levels, indicating reduced hepatitis infection, by the end of the trial period. In particular, improvement in the liver tissue was noted in this group on the basis of an observed reduction in inflammation and necrosis of the lobes. Six to 12 months after treatment was discontinued, almost all patients who had improved returned to their untreated condition and only two individuals retained any benefits of the interferon therapy. It was concluded that interferon alfa therapy was effective in reducing symptoms of the disease, but has no long-term effects.

Care and treatment, Evaluation, Blood transfusion, Hepatitis E

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Glomerulonephritis caused by chronic hepatitis B virus infection: treatment with recombinant human alpha-interferon

Article Abstract:

Glomerulonephritis is the inflammation of the glomerulus, the units of small blood vessels that filter blood through the kidney. This kidney disorder may be caused by chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the long-term inflammation of the liver. The effectiveness of interferon-alpha in treating glomerulonephritis was assessed in five patients with hepatitis B infection. Interferon-alpha, a substance produced upon exposure of cells to a virus or other foreign nucleic acids, is involved in immunity and antitumor reactions. Treatment with interferon-alpha decreased blood levels of (HBV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the genetic material of the virus, in four of five patients. In addition, the HBV surface antigen called HBsAg, a component of the viral surface that can activate an immune response, disappeared, and the aminotransferase enzyme decreased to normal levels. Liver biopsy (tissue sampling) showed improvement of liver tissue death and inflammation. Interferon-alpha also decreased the excretion of blood proteins, and improved blood levels of the protein albumin. Improvements in biochemical and blood abnormalities associated with chronic hepatitis and glomerulonephritis were accompanied by the disappearance of symptoms of liver and kidney disease. The results show that interferon-alpha is effective against glomerulonephritis associated with HBV infection. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Liver diseases, Glomerulonephritis

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Hepatic failure and lactic acidosis due to fialuridine (FIAU), an investigational nucleoside analogue for chronic hepatitis B

Article Abstract:

Treatment of hepatitis B with fialuridine (FIAU) can be extremely toxic and cause liver failure, nerve and muscle disorders, pancreatitis, and the accumulation of lactic acid in the blood. In a clinical trial, 15 people with hepatitis B received either 0.10 or 0.25 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. Every one or two weeks the participants received a physical examination and blood and urine tests. During the 13th week of treatment, a patient whose medication had been stopped 17 days earlier had sudden liver failure and lactic acidosis. FIAU treatment was immediately stopped in all participants. Seven of the participants were developing liver failure, lactic acidosis, jaundice, and blood clotting disorders. Of these seven patients, five died and two survived with liver transplants. Examination of liver tissue from explants and autopsies showed the accumulation of fat and abnormalities of mitochondria.

Antiviral agents, Nucleoside analogs

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: A randomized, controlled trial of interferon alfa-2b alone and after prednisone withdrawal for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B

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