| [ Summary ] |
Both IFN monotherapy and PEG-IFN / rivabirin combination therapy could not be performed on patients with liver cirrhosis due to HCV infection in Japan until 2005. However, on April 21st 2006, monotherapy with IFN-β was sanctioned for cirrhosis patients, especially those with low serum HCV-RNA levels and those with the HCV serotypes other than 1. IFN-β daily dosages of 3 or 6 MU were given intravenously everyday for 6 weeks, followed by the injections of 3 MU 3 times a week for 28 weeks. This therapy produced SVR and / or sustained normal serum ALT levels in 51 % of the cases. The usefulness of such therapy should be further investigated in relation to the ratio of hepatocellular carcinogenesis in these patients. Also, projects to clarify the usefulness of PEG-IFN / rivabirin combination therapies are now in progress in Japan for patients with liver cirrhosis and HCV serotype 1, as well as those with high serum HCV-RNA levels. |