Biomaterial Database

Therapy of chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis with alpha interferon. A comparison between natural and recombinant alpha interferon. 1993

G Tarantino, and L Morelli, and M T Falce, and G Schipani, and C Liguori

Institute of Internal Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, Second Medical School, University of Naples.

We studied the effects of two different types of interferon alpha (natural interferon from human leukocytes vs. recombinant interferon 2b) in 64 patients with chronic Non-A, Non-B hepatitis; other finalities were: definition of the optimal duration of therapy with interferon alpha (IFN alpha), entity of side effects, cost-benefit ratio. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups, according to duration of IFN alpha treatment: Group I was treated for 12 months, Group II for six months, Group III for 3 months. Each group consisted of two subgroups, divided on the basis of the type of IFN used: subgroup A was administered natural IFN alpha, and subgroup B received recombinant IFN alpha 2b. Each patients was given 3 million units of IFN alpha by intramuscular injection on alternate days. At the end of treatment, a decrease in serum ALT activity was achieved in 39 cases (65%). The response rate was higher in Group I (89%) than in Group II (54%) and Group III (55%). Natural and recombinant IFN alpha 2b induced similar effects in patients treated for twelve months (Group I); recombinant IFN was more effective than natural IFN alpha in patients treated for six and three months. We conclude that the 12-month treatment with 3 million units of intramuscular recombinant IFN alpha, administered on alternate days, might be the optimal therapy schedule. This proposal is also supported by the evaluation of the cost benefit ratio.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007370	Interferon Type I	Interferon secreted by leukocytes, fibroblasts, or lymphoblasts in response to viruses or interferon inducers other than mitogens, antigens, or allo-antigens. They include alpha- and beta-interferons (INTERFERON-ALPHA and INTERFERON-BETA).	Interferons Type I,Type I Interferon,Type I Interferons,Interferon, Type I,Interferons, Type I
D008297	Male		Males
D011994	Recombinant Proteins	Proteins prepared by recombinant DNA technology.	Biosynthetic Protein,Biosynthetic Proteins,DNA Recombinant Proteins,Recombinant Protein,Proteins, Biosynthetic,Proteins, Recombinant DNA,DNA Proteins, Recombinant,Protein, Biosynthetic,Protein, Recombinant,Proteins, DNA Recombinant,Proteins, Recombinant,Recombinant DNA Proteins,Recombinant Proteins, DNA
D004341	Drug Evaluation	Any process by which toxicity, metabolism, absorption, elimination, preferred route of administration, safe dosage range, etc., for a drug or group of drugs is determined through clinical assessment in humans or veterinary animals.	Evaluation Studies, Drug,Drug Evaluation Studies,Drug Evaluation Study,Drug Evaluations,Evaluation Study, Drug,Evaluation, Drug,Evaluations, Drug,Studies, Drug Evaluation,Study, Drug Evaluation
D005260	Female		Females
D006526	Hepatitis C	INFLAMMATION of the LIVER in humans caused by HEPATITIS C VIRUS, a single-stranded RNA virus. Its incubation period is 30-90 days. Hepatitis C is transmitted primarily by contaminated blood parenterally and is often associated with transfusion and intravenous drug abuse. However, in a significant number of cases, the source of hepatitis C infection is unknown.	Hepatitis, Viral, Non-A, Non-B, Parenterally-Transmitted,Parenterally-Transmitted Non-A, Non-B Hepatitis,PT-NANBH,Parenterally Transmitted Non A, Non B Hepatitis
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man