High doses of recombinant α-interferon or γ-interferon for chronic hepatitis C: A randomized, controlled trial

Chronic hepatitis C is often a progressive liver disease for which there is no satisfactory treatment. We studied the efficacy of recombinant α-interferon or γ-interferon in the treatment of this disease in comparison with a control group. Thirty patients were randomly assigned to three groups. Ten patients received 7.5 MU α-interferon/m 2 body surface three times weekly for 3 mo, then 5 MU/m 2 for 3 mo and 2.5 MU/m 2 for 6 mo. Ten patients were treated with γ-interferon at a dose of 2 MU/m 2 for 6 mo and the other 10 served as controls without treatment. The mean serum ALT levels and liver histological findings improved significantly only in the patients treated with α-interferon. No changes were observed in patients treated with γ-interferon or in controls. Five of 10 patients treated with α-interferon had complete responses (mean ALT normal during therapy). After treatment ALT returned to pretreatment levels in two of 5 patients. The long-term response rate after α-interferon therapy was 30% at 18 mo. We conclude that α-interferon is effective in controlling disease activity in a portion of patients with chronic hepatitis C. High doses of α-interferon do not appear to add further benefit in the response rate or relapse rate. γ-Interferon therapy is ineffective. (Hepatology 1991;13:327-331).