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Interferon for acute hepatitis C
T Poynard1, C Regimbeau, R P Myers
1Service d'Hepato-Gastroenterologie, Groupe Hospitalier Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris, France, 47-83 boulevard de l'Hopital, Paris Cedex 13, France, 75651. tpoynard@teaser.fr
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|March 1, 2002
Summary
Interferon alfa effectively treats acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, improving viral clearance rates. This treatment is crucial for preventing chronic hepatitis C progression.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection frequently progresses to chronic disease.
- Interferon therapy has been investigated to prevent HCV chronicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of interferon in treating acute HCV infection.
- To evaluate interferon's role in preventing chronic hepatitis C.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized clinical trials comparing interferon with placebo or no treatment.
- Searched MEDLINE, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and conference abstracts.
- Analyzed biochemical and virologic endpoints, including sustained viral clearance.
Main Results:
- Interferon alfa-2b significantly increased virologic clearance rates (ETR and SR) in transfusion-acquired acute HCV.
- Virologic end-of-treatment clearance (ETR) was 42% with interferon alfa-2b vs. 4% in controls.
- Sustained virologic clearance (SR) at follow-up was 32% with interferon alfa-2b vs. 4% in controls.
- Efficacy of interferon beta could not be assessed due to trial heterogeneity.
Conclusions:
- Interferon alfa demonstrates efficacy in achieving biochemical improvements and sustained virologic clearance for acute HCV.
- The impact of interferon alfa on long-term clinical outcomes remains undetermined due to data limitations.