ACTA.FAC.MED.NAISS. 1998; 15(1), 46-55

RECOMBINANT ALPHA - 2 INTERFERON IN TREATMENT OF CHRONIC VIRAL HEPATITIS
Dragan Delić

Chronic viral hepatitis is among the major current medical issues since almost 700 million people worldwide suffer from chronic infection by primarily hepatotropic viruses B, D and C. Chronic infection by one of these viruses substantially impairs the quality of life, shortens life expectancy of most patients and is an enormous burden for health insurance funds.
Generally, the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis should be based on the modulation of the host immune response and/of antiviral effect of medication. The era of therapeutic nihilism in this branch of medicine has gone by, since numerous positive therapeutic expirences with immunomodulators and antiviral drugs heve been reported. In the last two decades recombinant alpa-2 (IFN) taken the leading role in treatment of chronic viral hepatitis.
Patients with chronic hepatitis B receive 2.5-5 MU/m2 IFN, sc, three times a week for six months. Good and lasting therapeutic effect should be expected in 30-45% patients.
In patients with hepatitis D, 9 MU IFN, sc, should be used theree times a week for 12 months. Lasting remission is expected in 15% of these patients.
The initial IFN dose in patients with chronic hepatitis C is 6 MU, sc, three times a week for the irst three months. In case of favorable therapeutic responce, the therapy should be continued for additional three months using 3 MU. Some authors advocate long-term usage of IFN, up to 12 months. A stable biochemical, virologic and histologic response can be expectid 20% of treated patients.
IFN therapy is associated with relatively frequent adverse effects, but they are transient and do not necessiate discontinuation of the therapy.

Key words: Chronic viral hepatitis, interferon