PubMed Health⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 8273373

[Interferon therapy in hepatitis C].

P Ferenci
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis C is one of the major causes of liver cirrhosis and seems to play a role in the pathogenesis of primary liver cancer. So far, no effective therapy--with the exception of some antiviral agents--was available for this disease. Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy results in about half of patients in a normalisation of liver transaminases within 4 weeks. Placebo-controlled studies confirm that in about 40% of patients IFN therapy achieves complete remissions. Frequently termination of IFN therapy is followed by a relapse. Therefore higher IFN doses and longer and/or repeated therapy cycles are currently investigated in order to improve treatment results. Furthermore, IFN-alpha is combined with other therapeutic principles. The possible usefulness of IFN-alpha for treatment of acute hepatitis C is under investigation.

Explore related subjects

BiopsyDose-Response Relationship, DrugHepatitis CHepatitis, ChronicHumansInterferon-alphaLiverLiver Function TestsEnglish AbstractJournal ArticleReview

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

P Ferenci. 1993. [Interferon therapy in hepatitis C].. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8273373/

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2007

Non-radical diagnostic biopsies do not negatively influence melanoma patient survival.

BACKGROUND: In fair-skinned Caucasian populations both the incidence and mortality rates of cutaneous melanoma have been increasing over the past decades. With adjuvant therapies still being under investigation, early detection is the only way to improve melanoma patient survival. The influence of incisional biopsies on melanoma patient survival has been discussed for many years. This study investigates both the influence of diagnostic biopsy type and the presence of residual tumor cells in the re-excision specimen on disease free and overall survival. METHODS: After (partial) removal of a pigmented skin lesion 471 patients were diagnosed with stage I/II melanoma and underwent re-excision and a sentinel node biopsy. All patients were followed prospectively, mean follow up >5 years. Patients were divided according to their diagnostic biopsy type (wide excision biopsy, narrow excision biopsy, excision biopsy with positive margins and incisional biopsy) and the presence of residual tumor cells in their re-excision specimen. Survival analysis was done using Cox's proportional hazard model adjusted for eight important confounders of melanoma patient survival. RESULTS: The diagnostic biopsy was wide in 279 patients, narrow in 109 patients, 52 patients underwent an excision biopsy with positive margins and 31 patients an incisional biopsy. In 41 patients residual tumor cells were present in the re-excision specimen. Both the diagnostic biopsy type and the presence of tumor cells in the re-excision specimen did not influence disease free and overall survival of melanoma patients. CONCLUSIONS: Non-radical diagnostic biopsies do not negatively influence melanoma patient survival.

Biopsy↗