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  • Title: Biochemical and viral response to consensus interferon (CIFN) therapy in chronic hepatitis C patients: effect of baseline viral concentration. Consensus Interferon Study Group.
    Author: Jensen DM, Krawitt EL, Keeffe EB, Hollinger FB, James SP, Mullen K, Everson GT, Hoefs JC, Fromm H, Black M, Foust RT, Pimstone NR, Heathcote EJ, Albert D.
    Journal: Am J Gastroenterol; 1999 Dec; 94(12):3583-8. PubMed ID: 10606323.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: The effect of baseline viral concentration on response was assessed as part of a multicenter phase 3 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of CIFN therapy for chronic HCV infection. METHODS: Patients (n = 472) received either CIFN 9 microg or IFN alpha-2b 3 MU subcutaneously t.i.w. for 24 wk, followed by 24 wk of observation. RESULTS: Efficacy was assessed by the percentage of patients who achieved normal ALT values or undetectable HCV RNA values (using RT-PCR with a sensitivity of 100 copies/ml). There was a clear relationship between baseline viral concentration and either ALT or HCV RNA response; patients with lower titer HCV RNA had better response rates. End-of-treatment HCV RNA responses were better for patients with low viral concentrations treated with CIFN (51%) than for patients treated with IFN a-2b (31%) (p = 0.03). ALT responses in patients with low viral concentrations were 60% for CIFN-treated patients and 27% for IFN alpha-2b-treated patients (p < 0.01) at the end of treatment. Patients with high titer HCV RNA were more likely to have a sustained HCV RNA response after treatment with CIFN 9 microg, compared with those treated with IFN alpha-2b (7% vs 0%, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Both genotype and baseline viral concentration were independent factors that affected response to interferon.
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