High vs Standard Dose Interferon Alfa for Chronic Hepatitis C Treatment
interferon alfa
Blood-Borne Infections+13
+ Digestive System Diseases
+ Hepatitis
Treatment Study
Summary
Study start date: August 1, 1993
Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.PROTOCOL OUTLINE: Patients are randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups in a 2:1 ratio. The first group is treated with high-dose interferon alfa (IFN-A) administered subcutaneously twice a week for 12 weeks. If the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level has normalized, the IFN-A dose is decreased in a stepwise fashion. If the ALT level decreases by more than 50%, IFN-A is continued at the same dose until week 24 or the ALT normalizes. If the ALT level decreases by less than 50%, treatment is discontinued. The second group is treated with standard-dose IFN-A administered subcutaneously twice a week for 24 weeks.
Protocol
This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.57 patients to be enrolled
Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.Treatment Study
Eligibility
Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.Any sex
Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.Healthy volunteers not allowed
If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.Conditions
Pathology
Criteria
PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA: --Disease Characteristics-- Biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis Anti-hepatitis C virus positive Hepatitis B surface antigen negative No decompensated cirrhosis --Prior/Concurrent Therapy-- No concurrent immunosuppressives At least 1 year since interferon --Patient Characteristics-- Hepatic: No other cause of liver disease Other: Not HIV positive