Seguimento tardio e padrões de resposta da ALT em pacientes com hepatite crônica NANB/C tratados com interferon-alfa

• Main Author: Silva, L.C. da
• Publication Date: 1995
• Other Authors: Ono, S.K., Fonseca, L.E.P., Carrilho, F.J., Mendes, L.C.A., França, A.V.C., Madruga, C.L.A., Laudanna, A.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
• Download full: https://www.revistas.usp.br/rimtsp/article/view/29268
• topic: Chronic hepatitis; Hepatitis C; Antiviral Therapy; Interferon; Response; Relapse

The response to interferon treatment in chronic hepatitis NANB/C has usually been classified as complete, partial or absent, according to the behavior of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT). However, a more detailed observation of the enzymatic activity has shown that the patterns may be more complex. The aim of this study was to describe the long term follow-up and patterns of ALT response in patients with chronic hepatitis NANB/C treated with recombinant interferon-alpha. A follow-up of 6 months or more after interferon-a was achieved in 44 patients. We have classified the serum ALT responses into six patterns and the observed frequencies were as follows: I. Long term response = 9 (20.5%); II. Normalization followed by persistent relapse after IFN = 7 (15.9%); III. Normalization with transient relapse = 5 (11.9%); IV. Temporary normalization and relapse during IFN = 4 (9.1%); V. Partial response (more than 50% of ALT decrease) = 7 (15.9%); VI. No response = 12 (27.3%). In conclusion, ALT patterns vary widely during and after IFN treatment and can be classified in at least 6 types.