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Alpha Interferon
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Jay H. Hoofnagle – One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Seizures during Alpha Interferon therapy
Journal of hepatology, 1996Co-Authors: A.obaid Shakil, Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, Jay H. HoofnagleAbstract:Abstract Background/Aims: Alpha Interferon is now used widely in the therapy of chronic viral hepatitis. The common side effects of Interferon are well known; the uncommon side effects are less well defined. We have evaluated the incidence and characteristics of seizures that occurred during Alpha Interferon therapy. Methods: A retrospective chart review was done on 311 patients with chronic hepatitis treated with Alpha Interferon between 1983 and 1994 at the National Institutes of Health. Results: Four of 311 patients (1.3%) developed grand mal seizures while on therapy with Alpha Interferon. Three patients had chronic hepatitis B (two had an accompanying glomerulonephritis) and one chronic delta hepatitis. Interferon had been given in doses of 5–10 million units each day or three times weekly for 2–14 months before the onset of seizures. No other obvious cause for seizures was identified. Seizures resolved once Interferon was stopped, and did not recur even without chronic anticonvulsant therapy. Conclusions: Alpha Interferon in the doses used to treat chronic viral hepatitis caused seizures in approximately 1% of patients.
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decrease in serum hepatitis c viral rna during Alpha Interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis c
Annals of Internal Medicine, 1991Co-Authors: Michiko Shindo, Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, Ling Cheung, Waikuo J Shih, Karen Cristiano, Stephen M Feinstone, Jay H. HoofnagleAbstract:Abstract ▪Objective:To assess the effect of Alpha–Interferon therapy on hepatitis C viral RNA in serum of patients with chronic hepatitis C. ▪Design:Retrospective testing for hepatitis C viral (HCV…
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long term remission of chronic hepatitis b after Alpha Interferon therapy
Annals of Internal Medicine, 1991Co-Authors: Julia C Korenman, Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, Bennie L Baker, Jeanne G Waggoner, James E Everhart, Jay H. HoofnagleAbstract:Objective: To evaluate whether remissions of chronic hepatitis B induced by Alpha–Interferon therapy are of long duration. Design: Cohort study. Setting: Clinical Center of the National Institutes …
Geoffrey Dusheiko – One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Impact of Alpha Interferon and Ribavirin on the Function of Maturing Dendritic Cells
Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, 2004Co-Authors: Eleanor Barnes, Geoffrey Dusheiko, Mariolina Salio, Vincenzo Cerundolo, Joanne Medlin, Shona Murphy, Paul KlenermanAbstract:Alpha Interferon and ribavirin are required in combination to achieve a sustained virological response in the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Alpha Interferon has direct antiviral activity and also enhances HCV-specific T-cell responses. Ribavirin has little direct activity against HCV but reduces hepatic inflammation. It is therefore likely that these drugs in combination have hitherto unidentified immunological effects. In the present study we investigated the effects of Alpha Interferon and ribavirin on dendritic cell (DC) maturation and cytokine production induced by double-stranded RNA in vitro. Alpha Interferon alone enhanced the expression of HLA class I, HLA class II, and CD86 on immature DCs but did not stimulate full DC maturation, which requires the expression of CD83. Alpha Interferon enhanced the production of interleukin 12 p70 [IL-12(p70)] and tumor necrosis factor Alpha (TNF-Alpha) but had no effect on IL-10 production. In contrast, ribavirin at physiological doses had no effect on DC maturation but markedly suppressed the production of TNF-Alpha, IL-10, and IL-12(p70). The suppression of cytokines by ribavirin cannot be explained by the induction of DC apoptosis or cell death. Quantitative PCR confirmed that cytokine suppression occurs at the level of mRNA. The suppression of IL-12(p70) and TNF-Alpha in maturing DCs may explain the reduction in hepatic inflammation observed during ribavirin monotherapy. Combination Alpha Interferon-ribavirin therapy may alter the cytokine profile of maturing DCs overall by suppressing IL-10 production but maintaining IL-12(p70) and TNF-Alpha production, a pattern that would favor viral elimination through downstream effects on T cells.
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Long-term efficacy of treatment of chronic hepatitis C with Alpha Interferon or Alpha Interferon and ribavirin.
Journal of Hepatology, 1999Co-Authors: Eleanor Barnes, George Webster, Ruth Jacobs, Geoffrey DusheikoAbstract:The major objective of treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is to prevent progression to cirrhosis, and thereby prevent complications of end-stage liver disease. The established treatment of chronic HCV is with Alpha Interferon. Recent results with ribavirin and Alpha Interferon together suggest that combination antiviral therapy will become the benchmark treatment. For both naive and relapsed patients, however, it has become important to assess the long-term outcome of treatment, in order to gauge whether treatment has indeed modified the natural history of chronic hepatitis C virus infection. It seems likely that most sustained responders (85-90%) treated with combination ribavirin and Alpha Interferon will continue to have a long-term biochemical and virological response, as has been demonstrated with Alpha Interferon alone, but further long-term follow-up of patients treated with combination therapy is required.
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Side effects of Alpha Interferon in chronic hepatitis C.
Hepatology (Baltimore Md.), 1997Co-Authors: Geoffrey DusheikoAbstract:Alpha Interferons have been used widely to treat chronic hepatitis C virus infection. These include recombinant Interferons, purified natural leukocyte, and lymphoblastoid Interferons. Alpha Interferon is administered by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection either daily or three times weekly for a period of 6 to as long as 24 months. A wide array of adverse effects of Alpha Interferon have been described. Several side effects such as fever, headache fatigue, arthralgias, and myalgias are common, especially with the initial injections. These early side effects of Interferon are predictable and are encountered in the majority of patients. These may not require dose modification, but can be problematic for a significant proportion of patients. Other adverse events effects may require dose modification or even discontinuation of therapy in 2% to 10% of patients. Neuropsychiatric side effects such as depression and irritability can be most troublesome; their mechanisms are not well understood. Granulocytes, platelets, and red blood cell counts decrease during treatment, but the decreases are usually mild, although they can be dose limiting if cell counts are low initially. Interferon has important immunomodulatory properties, and treatment can induce autoimmune phenomena, the most frequent being autoimmune thyroiditis with either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, especially in predisposed patients. Other autoimmune disease can be aggravated by Interferon therapy. Severe and even life-threatening side effects of Interferon occur in 0.1% to 1% of patients; these include thyroid, visual, auditory, renal, and cardiac impairment, and pulmonary interstitial fibrosis. Some of these side effects may be irreversible. Higher doses of Interferon (above 5 million units three times weekly) cause higher rates of adverse events than standard doses. Contraindications to Alpha Interferon have been recognized.
Adrian M. Di Bisceglie – One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Seizures during Alpha Interferon therapy
Journal of hepatology, 1996Co-Authors: A.obaid Shakil, Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, Jay H. HoofnagleAbstract:Abstract Background/Aims: Alpha Interferon is now used widely in the therapy of chronic viral hepatitis. The common side effects of Interferon are well known; the uncommon side effects are less well defined. We have evaluated the incidence and characteristics of seizures that occurred during Alpha Interferon therapy. Methods: A retrospective chart review was done on 311 patients with chronic hepatitis treated with Alpha Interferon between 1983 and 1994 at the National Institutes of Health. Results: Four of 311 patients (1.3%) developed grand mal seizures while on therapy with Alpha Interferon. Three patients had chronic hepatitis B (two had an accompanying glomerulonephritis) and one chronic delta hepatitis. Interferon had been given in doses of 5–10 million units each day or three times weekly for 2–14 months before the onset of seizures. No other obvious cause for seizures was identified. Seizures resolved once Interferon was stopped, and did not recur even without chronic anticonvulsant therapy. Conclusions: Alpha Interferon in the doses used to treat chronic viral hepatitis caused seizures in approximately 1% of patients.
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decrease in serum hepatitis c viral rna during Alpha Interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis c
Annals of Internal Medicine, 1991Co-Authors: Michiko Shindo, Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, Ling Cheung, Waikuo J Shih, Karen Cristiano, Stephen M Feinstone, Jay H. HoofnagleAbstract:Abstract ▪Objective:To assess the effect of Alpha–Interferon therapy on hepatitis C viral RNA in serum of patients with chronic hepatitis C. ▪Design:Retrospective testing for hepatitis C viral (HCV…
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long term remission of chronic hepatitis b after Alpha Interferon therapy
Annals of Internal Medicine, 1991Co-Authors: Julia C Korenman, Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, Bennie L Baker, Jeanne G Waggoner, James E Everhart, Jay H. HoofnagleAbstract:Objective: To evaluate whether remissions of chronic hepatitis B induced by Alpha–Interferon therapy are of long duration. Design: Cohort study. Setting: Clinical Center of the National Institutes …