Marcellini M, Kondili L A, Comparcola D, Spada E, Sartorelli M R, Palumbo M, Rapicetta M
Pediatric Hospital Bambin Gesù, Rome, Italy.
Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1997 Nov;16(11):1049-53. doi: 10.1097/00006454-199711000-00009.
There are limited data on the use of high interferon (IFN) dosage for treatment of children and young adults with hepatitis C virus infection and in those affected by thalassemia major (TM).
To assess the response of children and young adults with chronic hepatitis C disease, including those affected by TM, to high dose natural alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha). To evaluate the effect of iron overload in response to high dose IFN-alpha in young chronic hepatitis C virus thalassemia patients.
We conducted a therapeutic trial of natural IFN-alpha, using 10 million units/m2 three times a week for 6 months in 14 chronic hepatitis C patients ages 5 to 28 years; 7 also had TM. The follow-up period lasted 12 months.
Ten patients (73%) showed normal or nearly normal alanine aminotransferase values at the end of follow-up (biochemical response), but only five (35%) were negative for serum hepatitis C virus-RNA (complete responders). Four of the patients (57%) with TM were sustained complete responders. No correlation was found between the initial serum concentration of ferritin and response to IFN therapy. Patients infected with genotype 1b showed a poor response although high dose of natural IFN was used.
These results indicate that IFN-alpha can be used in children and young patients with chronic hepatitis C disease as well as in those affected by TM. Treatment with high dosage natural IFN-alpha in children and young adults with hepatitis C infection does not appear to be more effective than dosages previously used.
关于使用高剂量干扰素（IFN）治疗丙型肝炎病毒感染的儿童和青年以及重型地中海贫血（TM）患者的数据有限。
评估慢性丙型肝炎患儿及青年，包括受TM影响者，对高剂量天然α干扰素（IFN-α）的反应。评估铁过载对年轻慢性丙型肝炎病毒地中海贫血患者高剂量IFN-α反应的影响。
我们进行了一项天然IFN-α的治疗试验，对14例年龄在5至28岁的慢性丙型肝炎患者，每周3次，每次1000万单位/m²，持续6个月；其中7例还患有TM。随访期持续12个月。
10例患者（73%）在随访结束时丙氨酸氨基转移酶值正常或接近正常（生化反应），但只有5例（35%）血清丙型肝炎病毒RNA阴性（完全缓解者）。4例（57%）患有TM的患者为持续完全缓解者。未发现初始血清铁蛋白浓度与IFN治疗反应之间存在相关性。尽管使用了高剂量的天然IFN，但感染1b基因型的患者反应不佳。
这些结果表明，IFN-α可用于慢性丙型肝炎患儿及青年患者以及受TM影响的患者。在丙型肝炎感染的儿童和青年中使用高剂量天然IFN-α治疗似乎并不比以前使用的剂量更有效。
