Title of article :
Pre-treatment with prednisolone does not improve the efficacy of subsequent alpha interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis C
Author/Authors :
Magda Guilera، نويسنده , , Xavier Forns، نويسنده , , Xavier Torras، نويسنده , , Jaime Enriquez، نويسنده , , Susana Coll، نويسنده , , Ricard Solà، نويسنده , , Rosa Morillas، نويسنده , , Ramon Planas، نويسنده , , Sergi Ampurdanes-Mingall، نويسنده , , Marta Soler، نويسنده , , Josep Costa، نويسنده , , Juan C. S?iz، نويسنده , , José M. Sanchez-Tapias، نويسنده , , Juan Rodés، نويسنده ,
Issue Information :
روزنامه با شماره پیاپی سال 2000
Pages :
7
From page :
135
To page :
141
Abstract :
Background/Aims: Alpha interferon administration is quite disappointing as a single therapy in chronic hepatitis C. A brief course of corticosteroid therapy might increase the effectiveness of subsequent alpha interferon administration, but data on this issue are controversial. Methods: One hundred and fifty-six consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C were randomly assigned to be treated blined with tapering doses of oral prednisolone or placebo for 4 weeks. Two weeks after cessation of therapy, patients received alpha interferon (3 MU t.i.w.) for 48 weeks and were followed for 24 additional weeks. Response was defined by the presence of normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and negative HCV-RNA in serum. Results: ALT activity decreased during prednisolone administration and rebounded upon withdrawal in 38% of the patients treated with this drug. Significant changes in serum bilirubin were not observed. HCV-RNA serum concentration tended to increase during prednisolone administration and to decrease upon withdrawal. ALT and HCV-RNA did not change during administration of placebo. At the end of interferon administration, 33% of patients treated with prednisolone and 25% of those treated with placebo presented biochemical and virological response. At the end of post-treatment follow-up, response was maintained in 12% and 13% of patients treated with prednisolone or placebo, respectively. Response was not related to ALT or HCV-RNA changes observed during the pre-interferon phase of the study. No adverse events related to prednisolone administration were observed. Conclusions: Prednisolone administration and withdrawal induced a rebound in ALT activity and a decrease in HCV-RNA serum concentration in about one third of the patients with chronic hepatitis C. However, these changes did not enhance the effectiveness of subsequent alpha interferon therapy.
Keywords :
Prednisone , Steroid therapy , Sequential therapy , corticosteroids , HCV , Combined therapy
Journal title :
Journal of Hepatology
Serial Year :
2000
Journal title :
Journal of Hepatology
Record number :
584968
Link To Document :
بازگشت