Peginterferon-Based Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Patients with Normal Alanine Aminotransferase Levels
Authors: Stefano Brillanti, Fabio Levantesi, Giovanni Nigro, Susanna Vicari, Enrico Roda
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2003)

Letters2 December 2003Peginterferon-Based Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Patients with Normal Alanine Aminotransferase LevelsStefano Brillanti, MD, Fabio Levantesi, MD, Giovanni Nigro, MD, Susanna Vicari, MD, and Enrico Roda, MDStefano Brillanti, MDFrom University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.Search for more papers by this author, Fabio Levantesi, MDFrom University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.Search for more papers by this author, Giovanni Nigro, MDFrom University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.Search for more papers by this author, Susanna Vicari, MDFrom University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.Search for more papers by this author, and Enrico Roda, MDFrom University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-139-11-200312020-00022-w2 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Background: About 25% of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have persistently normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values (1). No agreement about management of these patients exists (2). The standard of care for chronic HCV infection is the combination of peginterferon plus ribavirin, and the addition of amantadine may increase the virologic response (3, 4). However, optimal treatment in patients with persistently normal ALT levels has not been investigated.Objective: To evaluate whether the use of peginterferon-based antiviral therapy is beneficial in patients with chronic HCV infection and persistently normal ALT values.Methods and Findings: Consecutive ...References1. Persico M, Persico E, Suozzo R, Conte S, De Seta M, Coppola L, . Natural history of hepatitis C virus carriers with persistently normal aminotransferase levels. Gastroenterology. 2000;118:760-4. [PMID: 10734027] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Bacon BR. Treatment of patients with hepatitis C and normal serum aminotransferase levels. Hepatology. 2002;36:S179-84. [PMID: 12407592] MedlineGoogle Scholar3. Fried MW, Shiffman ML, Reddy KR, Smith C, Marinos G, Goncales FL, . Peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C virus infection. N Engl J Med. 2002;347:975-82. [PMID: 12324553] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Brillanti S, Mangia A, Cimino L, Civolani A, Fatuzzo F, Fenoglio L, et al. Re-treatment of interferon plus ribavirin non-responders with peginterferon alfa-2a (40 Kda) plus ribavirin and amantadine or interferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin and amantadine. Interim results of a multicenter randomized study [Abstract]. J Hepatol. 2003; 38(S2):129. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byReview article: management of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and 'normal' alanine aminotransferase activityPRO: Most Patients Should be Treated 2 December 2003Volume 139, Issue 11Page: W-83KeywordsAlanine aminotransferaseBiopsyChronic hepatitis CFibrosisInflammationLiverLiver fibrosisPolymerase chain reactionRNAViremia ePublished: 2 December 2003 Issue Published: 2 December 2003 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2003 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...