Interferon-α in acute posttransfusion hepatitis C:. A randomized, controlled trial

Abstract

To assess the efficacy of interferon‐α in acute hepatitis C, 28 patients with acute posttransfusion hepatitis were randomized to receive 3 million units of recombinant interferon‐α three times weekly for 12 wk or no treatment. Biochemical, histological and serological parameters were monitored during 1 yr of follow‐up. Serum ALT levels were normal at the end of therapy in 73% of treated patients and only in 38% of control patients (p = 0.06); these differences disappeared at 6 and 12 mo of follow‐up. Anti–hepatitis C virus seroconversion occurred later and at a lower rate in the group of patients who received interferon‐α. Treated patients had a trend toward less severe hepatic lesions with lower histological activity as compared with the control group, but no statistical differences were observed. No severe side effects of interferon‐α were detected during the study. In summary, a 3‐mo course of interferon‐α in acute hepatitis C is safe and might have some effect in diminishing disease activity only during the treatment period; however, and probably because of a small sample size, no benefit of interferon‐α in the long‐term outcome of this disease was demonstrated. (HEPATOLOGY 1992;15:767–769).