Interferon therapy for non-A, non-B chronic hepatitis.

We report the results of our study on 8-week consecutive interferon (IFN) treatment for chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis. In the 6 MIU/day group, most cases had continuously normalized alanine-aminotransferase (ALT) levels even after IFN treatment was discontinued. In responders whose ALT levels remained normal, not only the degree of inflammation, as seen from HAI scores, but also liver histopathological features were improved. Moreover, antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) titer in responders was continuously decreased. Antiviral effects of IFN were observed by detection of HCV-RNA using the PCR technique. HCV-RNA became negative with IFN treatment, however, in some patients who relapsed after discontinuation of IFN treatment, re-elevation of ALT levels was usually preceded by re-appearance of HCV-RNA.