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Consensus Interferon Successful In Prior Hep C Non-Responders, Prior Relapsers CHICAGO, IL -- Dec. 14, 1998 -- Retreatment with 15 micrograms of consensus interferon three times a week for 12 months can eradicate hepatitis C virus and normalise ALT levels in a significant proportion of prior relapsers, as well as some non-responders, researchers say. The Consensus Interferon Study Group, a multi-centre trial consortium, reported their findings at the recent annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, held in Chicago from Nov. 6 to 10, 1998. The standard dose of consensus interferon is nine micrograms. The study results also suggest when to quit treatment. Virtually all patients who had a successful treatment outcome were evident by week 16 of therapy. They had eliminated virus from their blood (HCV RNA negative by the PCR technique) and had normal ALT levels. "If the goal of treatment is viral eradication, a patient could cease retreatment after 16 weeks if the virus has not been cleared and ALT normalised for both prior non-responders and prior relapsers," the researchers write. The research shows that 84 percent of prior relapsers who responded to retreatment cleared the virus by week eight and 98 percent were HCV RNA negative by week 16. Among prior non-responders, 70 percent cleared the virus by week eight, rising to 94 percent by week 16. ALT levels were normal by week 16 in 99 percent of prior relapsers and in 91 percent of prior non-responders who did respond to the higher dose consensus interferon therapy. There was no difference in the rate of both viral response and ALT normalisation between prior relapsers and non-responders who responded to retreatment. However, there was a significant difference between the percentage of prior relapsers and non-responders who responded to retreatment at all. Of all prior relapsers, 58 percent showed a sustained viral response to retreatment, versus only 13 percent of prior non-responders. In essence, a previous response to therapy predicted a higher likelihood of responding to retreatment. E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version