Abstract
Background: Alpha interferon (IFN) alone or in combination with Ribavirin (RBV) is the treatment of choice for HCV related chronic liver disease. There are many types of alpha IFN and to date only few reports are available comparing different types of alpha interferon. We run a randomised controlled trial with the aim to compare tolerability and efficacy of two different types of IFN: recombinant alpha 2b interferon (IFN-R) and leukocyte alpha n-3 interferon (IFN-L) at the same dosage of 3 MU subcutaneously thrice weekly for one year. Methods: one hundred sixty eight consecutive anti-HCV positive naive patients, 34 mild chronic active hepatitis (MCH), 81 moderate-severe hepatitis (MSCR) and 53 active cirrhosis (CIRR) that met the inclusion criteria were enrolled into the study. The diagnosis of HCV chronic liver disease was established by liver biopsy performed on patients with abnormal serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) value for at least one year. HCV serology: all patients were tested for confirmatory test RIBA II, HCV-RNA, and identification of viral genotype. Patients were randomised to receive either IFN-R or IFN-L. Follow-up continued for at least two years after stopping treatment. Results: no significant differences were observed between the two groups of treatment as far as the incidence of side effects is concerned. Tolerability was good: only 11 in IFN-R and 8 patients IFN-L group respectively had to stop therapy due to side effects. The two types of IFN showed a comparable efficacy: an end of therapy response was observed in 34% of IFN-R and 30% of IFN-L patients; a sustained response was seen in 16% of IFN-R and in 19% of IFN-L patients. Conclusion: in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C there was no statistically significant difference in tolerability and efficacy between the two IFNs tested.
Keywords: recombinant alpha, leurocyte interferon, chc, mch, mscr, cirr
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Incidence of Side Effects During Therapy with Different Types of Alpha Interferon: A Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Recombinant Alpha 2b Versus Leukocyte Interferon in the Therapy of Naive Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C
Volume: 8 Issue: 11
Author(s): Antonio Ascione, Massimo De Luca, Giovan Giuseppe Di Costanzo, Francesco aolo Picciotto, Alfonso Galeota Lanza, Carmine Canestrini, Filomena Morisco, Concetta Tuccillo and Nicola Caporaso
Affiliation:
Keywords: recombinant alpha, leurocyte interferon, chc, mch, mscr, cirr
Abstract: Background: Alpha interferon (IFN) alone or in combination with Ribavirin (RBV) is the treatment of choice for HCV related chronic liver disease. There are many types of alpha IFN and to date only few reports are available comparing different types of alpha interferon. We run a randomised controlled trial with the aim to compare tolerability and efficacy of two different types of IFN: recombinant alpha 2b interferon (IFN-R) and leukocyte alpha n-3 interferon (IFN-L) at the same dosage of 3 MU subcutaneously thrice weekly for one year. Methods: one hundred sixty eight consecutive anti-HCV positive naive patients, 34 mild chronic active hepatitis (MCH), 81 moderate-severe hepatitis (MSCR) and 53 active cirrhosis (CIRR) that met the inclusion criteria were enrolled into the study. The diagnosis of HCV chronic liver disease was established by liver biopsy performed on patients with abnormal serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) value for at least one year. HCV serology: all patients were tested for confirmatory test RIBA II, HCV-RNA, and identification of viral genotype. Patients were randomised to receive either IFN-R or IFN-L. Follow-up continued for at least two years after stopping treatment. Results: no significant differences were observed between the two groups of treatment as far as the incidence of side effects is concerned. Tolerability was good: only 11 in IFN-R and 8 patients IFN-L group respectively had to stop therapy due to side effects. The two types of IFN showed a comparable efficacy: an end of therapy response was observed in 34% of IFN-R and 30% of IFN-L patients; a sustained response was seen in 16% of IFN-R and in 19% of IFN-L patients. Conclusion: in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C there was no statistically significant difference in tolerability and efficacy between the two IFNs tested.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Ascione Antonio, Luca De Massimo, Costanzo Giuseppe Di Giovan, Picciotto aolo Francesco, Lanza Galeota Alfonso, Canestrini Carmine, Morisco Filomena, Tuccillo Concetta and Caporaso Nicola, Incidence of Side Effects During Therapy with Different Types of Alpha Interferon: A Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Recombinant Alpha 2b Versus Leukocyte Interferon in the Therapy of Naive Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2002; 8 (11) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612024607018
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612024607018 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Nanoemulsion Encapsulation and In Vitro SLN Models of Delivery for Cytotoxic Methotrexate
Current Drug Discovery Technologies Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Presenting as an Anterior Chest Wall Mass: A Case Report and Literature Review
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Emerging Molecular Targets for Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction: Vascular and Regenerative Therapies on the Horizon
Current Drug Targets Therapeutic Potential of Cholesteryl O-acyl α-glucoside Found in Helicobacter pylori
Current Medicinal Chemistry PCSK9 Inhibitors for the Management of Dyslipidemia in People with Type 2 Diabetes: How Low is Too Low?
Current Pharmaceutical Design Microaspiration in Intubated Critically Ill Patients: Diagnosis and Prevention
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Blood Biomarkers in Cardioembolic Stroke
Current Cardiology Reviews Metabolic Signaling to the Central Nervous System: Routes Across the Blood Brain Barrier
Current Pharmaceutical Design Olfactory Dysfunction and Cognitive Impairment in Age-Related Neurodegeneration: Prevalence Related to Patient Selection, Diagnostic Criteria and Therapeutic Treatment of Aged Clients Receiving Clinical Neurology and Community-Based Care
Current Clinical Pharmacology Feasibility of Margin Reduction for Level II and III Planning Target Volume in Head-and-Neck Image-Guided Radiotherapy – Dosimetric Assessment via A Deformable Image Registration Framework
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews New Designer Drugs (Synthetic Cannabinoids and Synthetic Cathinones): Review of Literature
Current Pharmaceutical Design Absorption, Pharmacokinetics and Disposition Properties of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs)
Current Drug Metabolism Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors as Therapeutic Alternatives in the Treatment of Chronic Liver Diseases
Current Medicinal Chemistry Endothelin-1 and the Aortic Valve
Current Vascular Pharmacology Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Potential of One Hundred Medicinal Plants
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Severe Asthma: Why do Some Children Not Respond to Treatment?
Current Pediatric Reviews Immunology and Epilepsy: Clinical and Experimental Evidence
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Novel Devices to Prevent Membrane Perforation in Transcrestal Sinus Floor Augmentation Surgery
Recent Patents on Biomedical Engineering (Discontinued) Recent Applications of Phosphoproteomics
Current Proteomics