Efficacy of interferon therapy on patients with HCV infection in dependence from the time of treatment.

Among 45 patients with chronic hepatitis C the efficiency of interferon alpha 2b treatment was evaluated. The efficiency of interferon therapy was determined after 6 months of treatment in the group of 28 patients (group I) treated for 6 months and 17 patients (group II) treated for 12 months. The side effects were investigated with respect to such a factor as time of treatment. 11 (39%) patients from group I had eliminated HCV RNA and 14 (50%) patients had normalized AlAT levels in the serum. Five (29%) patients from group II eliminated HCV RNA and 8 (47%) patients had normalized AlAT levels in the serum. The flu-like syndrome, thrombocytopenia, vision disorder, depression and somnolence were most often the side effects observed in treated patients. Proportionally to time of treatment vision disorder, depression and somnolence increased.