Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with cirrhosis with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor plus recombinant interferon-alpha

Interferon therapy in cirrhotic patients with hepatitis C virus infection is not efficient. In an attempt to improve the response rate, a pilot study using recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) alone, and in combination with recombinant interferon-alpha (rIFN), was carried out. Fifteen cirrhotic patients with hepatitis C virus infection were randomly allocated into 3 groups to receive treatment: 0.5, 1, or 1.5 μg/kg of rhG-CSF daily for 4 weeks, followed by a 4 week resting period, and by the same dose of rhG-CSF daily, plus 6 MU of rIFN 3 times weekly for 4 weeks. They then continued to receive 6 MU of rIFN alone for 4 weeks, followed by 3 MU of rIFN for 16 weeks. After the 4 weeks of treatment with rhG-CSF alone, no changes in ala-nine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were observed. No changes occurred during the resting period. Three of 10 patients who ended the rhG-CSF plus rIFN treatment period had normal ALT values. During the treatment with rIFN alone, two responders suffered a relapse. The other responder had normal ALT until the first month of follow-up. In summary, the combination of rhG-CSF and rIFN seems promising for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C and liver cirrhosis. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.