[Re-treatment with interferon-alpha in chronic hepatitis B and C virus infection]

The efficacy of interferon-alpha retreatment was assessed in patients with chronic hepatitis B or C, not responding to a first cycle of interferon or reactivating thereafter. 27 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 25 patients with chronic hepatitis C were investigated. After an interval of at least 6 months these patients received an interferon-alpha retreatment in a higher dosage schedule and with a different interferon-alpha subtype. In patients with chronic hepatitis B a loss of serum HBV-DNA was observed in 59% patients after interferon-alpha retreatment. HBeAg seroconversion occurred in 8 of these patients. In chronic hepatitis C 32% of the patients responded completely to the second cycle of interferon-alpha treatment with a normalization of ALT associated with a loss of serum HCV-RNA. A partial response with a marked reduction of ALT was seen in 4 patients. In chronic hepatitis B and C a complete or partial response to the retreatment was closely associated with the response status after the first cycle. Thus, interferon retreatment seems to be effective in patients with chronic hepatitis B or C, especially in the subgroup of patients exhibiting a partial or complete response after the first interferon treatment.