High dose interferon treatment in chronic hepatitis C.

The study involved 126 patients to evaluate the effectiveness of different interferon alfa-2b regimens on chronic hepatitis C, focusing on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. A regimen of 10 million units (MU) of interferon administered six times a week for two weeks, followed by 12 weeks of thrice-weekly dosing, was more effective in maintaining normal ALT levels compared to other regimens. The treatment outcome was significantly influenced by the treatment group and initial HCV-RNA levels. Common side effects included flu-like symptoms in over 90% of patients and hair loss in 21%. Treatment discontinuation due to side effects occurred in 9% of patients across all groups.