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  • Title: The efficacy of 24-week interferon monotherapy for type C liver cirrhosis in Japanese patients with genotype 1b and low virus load.
    Author: Arase Y, Suzuki F, Sezaki H, Kawamura Y, Suzuki Y, Kobayashi M, Akuta N, Hosaka T, Yatsuji H, Hirakawa M, Kobayashi M, Ikeda K, Kumada H.
    Journal: Intervirology; 2008; 51(4):265-9. PubMed ID: 18841028.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to elucidate the efficacy of interferon (IFN) therapy in liver cirrhosis Japanese patients with genotype 1b and low virus load. METHODS: The present study was a retrospective cohort study. Inclusion criteria were liver cirrhosis, HCV genotype 1b, HCV RNA of <100 KIU/ml, and natural IFN-alpha monotherapy for 24 weeks. In 23 consecutive patients who satisfied the above criteria the efficacy and side effects of IFN were examined. Independent factors that might have influenced a sustained virologic response (SVR) were studied using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The clinical patient profiles were as follows: median (range) age 52 (37-69) years; male/female 18/5, and median (range) HCV RNA 52 (<5-92) KIU/ml. Eight of the 23 patients (34.8%) had SVR by intention-to-treat analysis. Logistic analysis indicated that an HCV RNA level of <50 KIU/ml was associated with SVR (p = 0.049). The median (range) HCV RNA levels were 28 (<5-68) KIU/ml in patients with SVR and 60 (6-92) KIU/ml in patients without SVR. CONCLUSIONS: 24-week IFN monotherapy is a suitable therapy for type C cirrhotic patients with genotype 1b and an HCV RNA level of <50 KIU/ml.
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