Journal of Hepatology
Volume 43, Issue 1 , Pages 67-71, July 2005

Pilot study of interferon gamma for chronic hepatitis C☆

  • Alejandro Soza

      Affiliations

    • The Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
    • ,
  • Theo Heller

      Affiliations

    • The Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
    • ,
  • Marc Ghany

      Affiliations

    • The Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
    • ,
  • Glen Lutchman

      Affiliations

    • The Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
    • ,
  • T. Jake Liang

      Affiliations

    • The Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
    • ,
  • June Germain

      Affiliations

    • Department of Transfusion Medicine, Warren G. Magnusen Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
    • ,
  • Henry H. Hsu

      Affiliations

    • InterMune, Inc., Brisbane, CA, USA
    • ,
  • Yoon Park

      Affiliations

    • The Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
    • ,
  • Jay H. Hoofnagle

      Affiliations

    • The Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Address: Building 31, Room 9A27, 31 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. Tel.: +1 301 496 1333; fax: +1 301 480 2680.

Received 4 January 2005; received in revised form 13 February 2005; accepted 14 February 2005. published online 26 April 2005.

Background/Aims

Currently, there are no effective therapies available for patients with chronic hepatitis C who have failed to respond to optimal interferon alfa-based regimens. The aims of this pilot study were to assess the antiviral activity and safety of interferon gamma in chronic hepatitis C.

Methods

Patients with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 1, who had not responded to or who had relapsed after therapy with interferon alfa and ribavirin were enrolled in a trial of interferon gamma 1b given in doses of 100, 200 or 400μg subcutaneously three times weekly for 4 weeks. Frequent blood samples were obtained for HCV RNA levels.

Results

Fourteen patients were enrolled. Geometric mean HCV RNA levels remained unchanged. Serum aminotransferase levels also did not change, while there were significant decreases in neutrophil counts (−41% from baseline) and hematocrit (−5%). Low grade fever and malaise were common with the first injection of interferon gamma, but no serious side effects were encountered.

Conclusions

Although relatively well tolerated, interferon gamma in doses of 100–400μg thrice weekly had no effect on HCV RNA levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C who had failed to achieve a sustained response to interferon alfa-based therapies.

Keywords: Antiviral therapy, Cytokines, Interferon alfa, Interferon gamma, Viral kinetics, Bone marrow suppression

Abbreviations: HCV, hepatitis C virus, PCR, polymerase chain reaction

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☆ The authors who have taken part in this study have declared that they do not have a relationship with the manufacturers of the drugs involved either in the past or present and did not receive funding from the manufacturers to carry out their research.

PII: S0168-8278(05)00253-9

doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2005.02.023

Journal of Hepatology
Volume 43, Issue 1 , Pages 67-71, July 2005

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