DefinePK

Abstract

Hoofnagle et al.1 were the first to describe that inter­feron alpha, when given to patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis, was able to normalize liver enzyme levels in a substantial number of patients. They also noted that relapses might occur if treatment was discontinued1. This observation was confirmed by other smaller controlled and uncontrolled studies2-4. Subsequently the genome of HCV was cloned and its nucleotide sequence determined5 which lead to develop­ment of tests for antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) using recombi­nant antigen6-11. Since then a number of studies have been performed in hepatitis C and it is generally accepted that interferon is the most effective therapy for it. In one of the largest studies published recently by Alberti et al. 12 a high initial response of 65-70% with 6 MU thrice weekly as compared to 56-58% response with 3 MU thrice weekly was reported. The present study was done to assess the short term effects of treatment with alpha-interferon on patients with chronic hepatitis C.