To assess the effectiveness and side effects of sequential interferon (IFN)-α and β treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C, 25 patients were enrolled in a trial of this regimen. The patients were given 6 million units (MU) of natural human INF-β daily for 2 weeks followed by 6 MU of natural human IFN-α three times a week for 10 to 22 weeks. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels normalized for at least 24 weeks in 10 patients (40%), of whom 4 (40%) had no detectable serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA. Three variables were significant in predicting a sustained response: a low serum HCV RNA level, a low Knodell's fibrosis score, and a low indocyanine green retention rate at 15 minutes. Elevated serum ALT and proteinurea were observed with IFN-β treatment but these side effects were mild and disappeared when INF-β treatment ended. While all patients completed the entire regimen, we concluded that sequential IFN-α and β treatment provides no additional antiviral effects in chronic hepatitis C.
