Interferon-alpha can be used successfully in patients with hepatitis C virus-positive chronic hepatitis who have a psychiatric illness.

  • 1 February 1995
    • journal article
    • clinical trial
    • Vol. 7  (2) , 165-8
Abstract
To determine whether individuals with concurrent active psychiatric disease and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be treated safely and effectively with interferon-alpha. Prospective, open label study. Tertiary referral hospital. Thirty-one consecutive patients with co-existent chronic HCV and a psychiatric illness. Interferon-alpha was administered at doses of either 5 MU three times per week for 6 months (n = 17) or 5 MU daily for 6 months (n = 14). HCV-RNA in serum was measured using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Serum alanine aminotransferase levels were assessed and liver biopsy was performed before and after 6 months of treatment and again after 6 months of follow-up. Twenty-nine of the 31 patients completed 6 months of therapy. Two patients discontinued therapy after 2 and 3 months of treatment. Serum alanine aminotransferase levels returned to normal in 22 (71%) patients. Fifteen (48%) of the 31 patients cleared HCV-RNA from their serum. Only four patients experienced a worsening of their psychiatric illness during treatment. Interferon therapy was discontinued in two of these patients. Patients with a co-existent psychiatric illness and chronic HCV can be treated successfully with interferon-alpha with the active participation of a psychiatrist and the maintenance of psychotropic drug therapy during interferon treatment.

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