Sustained response to interferon alpha-2a in thalassemic patients with chronic hepatitis C. A prospective 8-year follow-up study

Haematologica. 2005 Jan;90(1):129-31.

Abstract

Eighty-nine thalassemic patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with interferon alpha-2a for 12 months and followed up for 8 years. Interferon induced sustained virologic and biochemical response in 45% of participants and histologic improvement in 50% of patients who had paired liver biopsies. Splenectomy was the only independent predictor of an unfavorable outcome.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / blood
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • beta-Thalassemia / blood
  • beta-Thalassemia / complications*
  • beta-Thalassemia / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • RNA, Viral
  • Recombinant Proteins