Alpha-Interferon Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C: Need for Accurate Diagnosis in Selecting Patients

Editorials1 January 1992Alpha-Interferon Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C: Need for Accurate Diagnosis in Selecting PatientsMartin Black, MD, Marion Peters, MDMartin Black, MD, Marion Peters, MDAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-116-1-86 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptFor two decades, therapy for viral hepatitis has included alpha-interferon, but only this year was the drug licensed for treatment of chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis. The licensing of the drug for use in patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis, rather than only in those with a specific diagnosis of hepatitis C (HCV), reflects both state-of-the-art knowledge of HCV testing with the commercially available test for antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) (70% to 80% positive in "high-risk" populations; that is, those with risk factors for non-A, non-B hepatitis infection) as well as the possibility that there are "non-A, non-B, non-C" viruses yet to...References1. DavisBalartSchiffLindsayBodenheimerPerrillo GLEKHR. Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with recombinant interferon alpha. N Engl J Med. 1989;321:1501-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. DiBisceglieMartinKassianidesLisker-MelmanMurrayWaggoner APCMLJ. Recombinant interferon-alfa therapy for chronic hepatitis C. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. N Engl J Med. 1989;321:1506-10. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. NishiguchiKurokiUedaFukudaTakedaNakajimaSmithJohnsonBrayVerganiWilliams STTKTSHPGDR. Hepatitis C virus antibodies in chronic active hepatitis: pathogenetic factor or false positive result? Lancet. 1990;335:754-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. PapoMarcellinBernuauDurandPoynardBenhamou TPJFTJ. Autoimmune chronic hepatitis exacerbated by interferon. Ann Intern Med. 1992;116:51-3. LinkGoogle Scholar6. Ruiz-MorenoRuaCarrenoQuirogaMannsMeyer Zum Buschenfelde MMVJMK. Autoimmune chronic hepatitis type 2 manifested during interferon therapy. J Hepatol. 1991;12:265-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. SilvaReddyJeffersHillSchiff MKLME. Interferoninduced chronic active hepatitis? Gastroenterology. 1991;101:840-2. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. Peters M. Mechanism of action of interferons. Semin Liver Dis. 1989;9:235-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, MO 63110 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByHealing of autoimmune hepatitis associated with hepatitis C virus infection treated with direct-acting antiviralsAutoantibodies in chronic hepatitis C: A clinical perspectiveAcute hepatitis C infection in a renal transplant recipient: primacy of the liver or kidney?Treatment issues surrounding hepatitis C in renal transplantation: A reviewAutoimmune hepatitis: diagnostic criteria, subclassifications, and clinical featuresManagement of Hepatitis C Infection in Renal Transplant RecipientsDefinition and classification of autoimmune hepatitis 1999 (on behalf of the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group)Treatment of hepatites C infection in patients withrenal diseaseSide effects of alpha-interferon therapy and impact on health-related quality of life in children with chronic viral hepatitisHepatitis C in renal transplanationMolecular biological xxxmethods in diagnosis and treatment of liver diseasesHepatitis C virus infection in dialysis and renal transplantationInterferon-α for Viral HepatitisInterferon and Other Therapies for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C InfectionsHepatitis C virus infection: clinical aspects and treatment with interferon alfaHepatitis CHigh prevalence of serological markers of autoimmunity in patients with chronic hepatitis CInterferons for viral hepatitisVirus-induced autoimmunity in hepatitis C virus infections: A rare eventHazards of interferon treatment in patients with autoimmune chronic active hepatitisSEROLOGIC TESTING FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES 1 January 1992Volume 116, Issue 1Page: 86-88KeywordsDrug licensingDrug therapyDrugsHepatitis AHepatitis A virusHepatitis CHepatitis C virusMedical risk factorsPharmacologyPopulation statistics Issue Published: 1 January 1992 PDF DownloadLoading ...