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Alanine aminotransferase and HCV-RNA responses following interferon therapy of HCV-RNA positive chronic hepatitis

  • Liver, Pancreas, and Biliary Tract
  • Published:
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Summary

Interferon (IFN) has been shown to be effective for chronic hepatitis C. This study investigated changes of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HCV-RNA in chronic hepatitis C patients treated withα-IFN. IFN was given to 73 patients with HCV-RNA positive chronic hepatitis C. The pattern of changes in ALT activity after IFN aministration was classified into five types. Type 1 was characterized by normalization of ALT (≤25 K.U) during IFN administration and sustained normalization after the IFN therapy. Type 2 involved a rebound of ALT after termination of IFN therapy and subsequent normalization. Type 3 had no ALT normalization during IFN administration, with normalization after the completion of the therapy. Type 4 involved transient normalization of ALT level during IFN therapy, with a subsequent reversion to abnormal levels after the termination of IFN therapy. Type 5 showed sustained abnormally high levels of ALT activity both during and after treatment. Twenty four patients (32.9%) had sustained normalization ALT (≤25 K.U) after the termination of IFN treatment. The HCV-RNA negative rate at 6 months after IFN therapy in patients with sustained normalization of ALT was 87.5% (21/24).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, Toranomon Hospital, 2-2-2 Toranomon, Minato-ku, 105, Tokyo, Japan

    Yasuji Arase M.D., Hiromitsu Kumada, Kazuaki Chayama, Akihito Tsubota, Kenji Ikeda & Satoshi Saitoh

  2. Hepatic Research Unit, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

    Yoko Sakai, Toyomi Matsumoto & Mariko Kobayashi

Authors
  1. Yasuji Arase M.D.
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  2. Hiromitsu Kumada
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  3. Kazuaki Chayama
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  4. Akihito Tsubota
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  5. Kenji Ikeda
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  6. Satoshi Saitoh
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  7. Yoko Sakai
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  8. Toyomi Matsumoto
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  9. Mariko Kobayashi
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Arase, Y., Kumada, H., Chayama, K. et al. Alanine aminotransferase and HCV-RNA responses following interferon therapy of HCV-RNA positive chronic hepatitis. Gastroenterol Jpn 27, 646–651 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02774980

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02774980

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