Anti-alpha interferon antibodies after alpha interferon treatment in patients with chronic viral hepatitis |
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| Authors: | A Craxi V Di Marco R Volpes U Palazzo |
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| Affiliation: | Cattedra di Gastroenterologia, Clinica Medica R, University of Palermo. |
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| Abstract: | Thirty-five patients with chronic viral hepatitis (B, D or non A, non B), treated with alpha interferon were evaluated by a highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay for the presence of alpha interferon neutralizing antibodies before and after three months of treatment. Although 4 subjects (11.4%) became immunized against alpha interferon, treatment with the drug was successful in inhibiting viral replication in 3 of them. We conclude that the appearance of anti alpha interferon antibodies does not affect the effectiveness of the drug, and is therefore not worth monitoring. |
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