In this pilot study, we evaluated the efficacy of interferon-α (IFN) plus Thymosin-α 1 (TA1) to that of IFN alone in naive patients with chronic hepatitis C. Twenty-two patients were randomized to receive interferon-α2b (3 million units three times a week) plus thymosin-α 1 (900 μg/m2 body surface area) and 19 received interferon-α2b alone at the same dose. Patients were treated for 6 months and followed up for another 6 months. Biochemical (alanine aminotransferase values) and virological (hepatitis C virus-RNA) responses to treatment were determined. Combination treatment showed significantly higher efficacy than monotherapy in achieving virological end-of-treatment response (P = 0.03). At 6-month follow up, the sustained biochemical and virological response was not different between the two groups. Our results indicate that the immune modulator TA1 may enhance the end-of-treatment response in naive patients with chronic hepatitis C. Higher doses and/ore more prolonged courses as well as the association with new interferon formulation such as pegylated interferons could improve the sustained response rates to this treatment.
Titolo: | Thymosin-alpha 1 plus interferon-alpha for naive patients with chronic hepatitis C: results of a randomized controlled pilot trial |
Autore/i: | ANDREONE, PIETRO; GRAMENZI, ANNAGIULIA; Cursaro C.; FELLINE, FRANCESCO PALMIRO; LOGGI, ELISABETTA; D'ERRICO, ANTONIETTA; Spinosa M.; Lorenzini S.; BISELLI, MAURIZIO; BERNARDI, MAURO |
Autore/i Unibo: | |
Anno: | 2004 |
Rivista: | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2893.2003.00470.x |
Abstract: | In this pilot study, we evaluated the efficacy of interferon-α (IFN) plus Thymosin-α 1 (TA1) to that of IFN alone in naive patients with chronic hepatitis C. Twenty-two patients were randomized to receive interferon-α2b (3 million units three times a week) plus thymosin-α 1 (900 μg/m2 body surface area) and 19 received interferon-α2b alone at the same dose. Patients were treated for 6 months and followed up for another 6 months. Biochemical (alanine aminotransferase values) and virological (hepatitis C virus-RNA) responses to treatment were determined. Combination treatment showed significantly higher efficacy than monotherapy in achieving virological end-of-treatment response (P = 0.03). At 6-month follow up, the sustained biochemical and virological response was not different between the two groups. Our results indicate that the immune modulator TA1 may enhance the end-of-treatment response in naive patients with chronic hepatitis C. Higher doses and/ore more prolonged courses as well as the association with new interferon formulation such as pegylated interferons could improve the sustained response rates to this treatment. |
Data prodotto definitivo in UGOV: | 2005-10-06 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 1.01 Articolo in rivista |