Paper

Long-Term Effects of Interferon-Based Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C
Ming-Lung Yu^{a, b, c}, Chung-Feng Huang^{a, c}, Chia-Yen Dai^{a, d, e}, Jee-Fu Huang^{a, d, f}, Wan-Long Chuang<sup>a, b

a</sup>Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital,
^bHepatobiliary Division, Faculty of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University,
^cDepartment of Prevention Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital,
^dGraduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University,
^eDepartment of Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, and
^fDepartment of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiaokang Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Address of Corresponding Author

Oncology 2007;72 (Suppl. 1):16-23 (DOI: 10.1159/000111703)

  Key Words

• Interferon
• Ribavirin
• Cirrhosis
• Hepatocellular carcinoma
• Survival
• Hepatitis C virus

  Abstract

Hepatitis C virus infection frequently causes chronic liver disease leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and has become the main indication for liver transplantation. Interferon (IFN)-based therapy has been used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) for viral clearance. Several earlier studies showed long-term beneficial effects of IFN monotherapy in reducing the progression of cirrhosis, hindering HCC development, and prolonging survival among both sustained virological responders and nonresponders. However, the benefits of preventing disease progression in CHC patients without sustained virological response (SVR) no longer existed over a longer observation period. Both IFN monotherapy and IFN-ribavirin combination therapy were shown to reduce significantly the complications of liver disease, in terms of development of cirrhosis, HCC and liver-related mortality. The significance disappeared after response to antiviral treatment was taken into account. The benefits were obtained mainly from successful antiviral treatment but were not related to the antiviral regimens, suggesting that the magnitude of this preventive effect could increase through the significant improvement of SVR rate by using a more effective regimen, such as interferon-ribavirin or peginterferon-ribavirin combination therapy. Nevertheless, about one-third of patients remain resistant to the current recommended antiviral regimens. More effective treatment is needed for the population.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Wan-Long Chuang, MD, PhD
Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine
Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital
No. 100, Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807 (Taiwan)
Tel. +886 7 312 1101, ext. 7475, Fax +886 7 323 4553, E-Mail fish6069@gmail.com

  Article Information

Published online: December 13, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 50