Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with interferon alpha

To evaluate the response to interferon alpha in patients with chronic hepatitis C in Christchurch.

Fifteen patients with chronic HCV were given interferon alpha 3 million units subcutaneously three times a week for up to 24 weeks. A complete and partial biochemical response was defined by relative changes in the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) during the treatment period. Detection of HCV RNA by the polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the virological response to treatment.

A complete or partial response was seen in nine of the 15 patients (60%). Histological improvement was demonstrated in all patients for whom paired liver biopsies were taken. Following treatment two of the five complete responders have shown a sustained biochemical response but only one has remained PCR negative, ie, a sustained virological responder. The other three, complete responders and all four partial responders relapsed.

The response to treatment and relapse was comparable with other studies. It remains to be shown whether investigation of the viral titre and/or viral type will help to explain the high relapse rate in these patients with chronic HCV.