Interferon therapy for patients more than 60 years of age with chronic hepatitis C.

Author: Horiike N; Masumoto T; Nakanishi K; Michitaka K; Kurose K; Ohkura I; Onji M
Address: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Ehime University School of Medicine, Japan. Source: J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 1995 May-Jun, 10:3, 246-9

Abstract

Nineteen patients aged > 60 years with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) received interferon (IFN) therapy and a complete response (CR) was achieved by five of them (26%). The incidence of CH with severe fibrosis in this elderly group was significantly higher than in another 52 patients with CHC who were < 60 years of age (the younger group; P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype distribution between the elderly group and the younger group. However, the HCV-RNA titre was significantly higher in the elderly group than in the younger group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the efficacy rate of IFN in the elderly and younger groups after standardization of the background factors. In the elderly group, the HCV-RNA titre was significantly lower in the patients achieving CR than in those with no response (P < 0.05). These data suggest that elderly patients with a low HCV-RNA titre can still respond well to IFN therapy.