| Theme |
Current Topics in Hepatitis viruses |
| Title |
Interferon Therapy for HGV Infected Hepatitis Patients |
| Author |
Hirotoshi Fujikawa |
Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Teikyo University School of Medicine First Department of Pathology, Nihon University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Hiroshi Miyakawa |
Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Teikyo University School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] |
We describe herein interferon (IFN) therapy for GBV/HGB hepatitls. Up to the present, reported cases receiving IFN therapy in Japan have generally been co-infected with chronic hepatitis C virus based on retrospective studies. According to these reports, IFN induced a transient decrease in serum GBV-C RNA levels during administration, but, subsequently the GBV-C RNA returned to pre-treatment levels. We summarize in this review the therapeutic effects described in previous reports in Japan.
Furthermore, we report our experience with a GBV-C RNA-positive fulminant hepatitis case treated with IFN. These observations indicate that IFN effectively decreased serum levels of GBV-C RNA, though these effects were transient. Therefore, we are planning re-treatment with IFN for this patient in the near future. Further studies on the epidemiological analysis of GBV/HGB hepatitis and therapeutic analysis of IFN for this disease are needed. |