Abstract
To investigate whether interferon (IFN)-α has an antifibrotic effect on chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) patients, the histological change of liver fibrosis was compared before and after IFN therapy in CH-C patients, All patients received IFN-α for 6 months, 480-880 MU in total without HCV-RNA clearence and persistent ALT normalization after therapy (Group A: 46 patients, Male/Female, 25/21, mean age 57.0±9.2 years). As a control group, 36 patients with CH-C who received medication other than IFN such as Ursodeoxycholic acid, Sho-Saiko-To (TJ-9) and Strong Neo Minophagen-C alone or together were examined (Group B: Male/Female, 24/12, mean age 57.6±9.7 years), Both groups were also subdivided into 3 subgroups according to the patterns of ALT changes during the observation period as follows, (a): ALT<60IU/L (below about twice the upper limit of normal range) persistently, (b): ALT≥60IU/L, (c): other than (a) and (b). When the f ibrotic stage was the same between the initial and second biopsy, we determined whether the degree of fibrosis had improved or deteriorated by comparing the f ibrotic ratio calculated by using a computed graphic software. Improvement of fibrosis was found in more than about 70% of each ALT subgroup and all patients in Group A, Though there was no significant difference between the groups in each subgroup, all patients in Group A was significantly higher than that in Group B, In comparison of mean yearly change of serum aminoterminal peptide of type III procollagen (PIIIp) levels between both groups, the mean value of Group A was lower than Group B in each subgroup and all patients although no statistical significance was found. These results suggest that IFN might have an antif ibrotic effect on chronic hepatitis C patients.
