TY - JOUR
T1 - Early clearance of circulating hepatitis C virus enhanced by induction therapy with twice-a-day intravenous injection of IFN-β
AU - Ikeda, Fusao
AU - Shimomura, H.
AU - Miyake, M.
AU - Fujioka, S. I.
AU - Itoh, M.
AU - Takahashi, A.
AU - Iwasaki, Y.
AU - Sakaguchi, K.
AU - Yamamoto, K.
AU - Higashi, T.
AU - Tsuji, T.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - To improve the long-term efficacy of interferon (IFN) for treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, we proposed induction therapy with twice-a-day IFN-β injection. This study was intended to clarify the antiviral mechanism. Thirty patients were randomly assigned to two groups: group A (twice-a-day therapy) received 3 MU IFN-β intravenously (i.v.) twice a day for 2 weeks; group B (once-a-day therapy) received 6 MU of IFN-β daily. HCV RNA, IFN-β, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), 2'5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (2'5'-AS) activity, and β2-microglobulin in serum were compared between the two groups during the first 2 weeks of IFN therapy. The clearance rate of serum HCV RNA in group A (86.7%) was significantly higher than that in group B (13.3 %) at day 3 (p = 0.0006). No accumulation of IFN-β was shown in serum throughout the therapy. The ratio (day 3/day 1) of 2'5'-AS activity was significantly higher in group A. Multivariate analysis indicated twice-a-day IFN-β injection therapy led to significantly early clearance of circulating HCV. Twice-a-day IFN-β injection therapy could induce biologically enhanced antiviral activities and be an efficient induction therapy for eradication of HCV.
AB - To improve the long-term efficacy of interferon (IFN) for treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, we proposed induction therapy with twice-a-day IFN-β injection. This study was intended to clarify the antiviral mechanism. Thirty patients were randomly assigned to two groups: group A (twice-a-day therapy) received 3 MU IFN-β intravenously (i.v.) twice a day for 2 weeks; group B (once-a-day therapy) received 6 MU of IFN-β daily. HCV RNA, IFN-β, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), 2'5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (2'5'-AS) activity, and β2-microglobulin in serum were compared between the two groups during the first 2 weeks of IFN therapy. The clearance rate of serum HCV RNA in group A (86.7%) was significantly higher than that in group B (13.3 %) at day 3 (p = 0.0006). No accumulation of IFN-β was shown in serum throughout the therapy. The ratio (day 3/day 1) of 2'5'-AS activity was significantly higher in group A. Multivariate analysis indicated twice-a-day IFN-β injection therapy led to significantly early clearance of circulating HCV. Twice-a-day IFN-β injection therapy could induce biologically enhanced antiviral activities and be an efficient induction therapy for eradication of HCV.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033800280&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0033800280&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1089/10799900050151102
DO - 10.1089/10799900050151102
M3 - Article
C2 - 11032403
AN - SCOPUS:0033800280
VL - 20
SP - 831
EP - 836
JO - Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research
JF - Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research
SN - 1079-9907
IS - 9
ER -