"The Breakthrough Phenomenon during Alpha-Interferon Therapy of Chronic Hepatitis C: Incidence, Management, and Outcome."

According to the authors' abstract of an article published in American Journal of Gastroenterology, "Objectives: Some patients treated with (alpha)-interferon (alpha-IFN) for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) initially respond with normalization of ALT only to encounter a rise in ALT while still on the drug. This phenomenon is called breakthrough (BT). We reviewed our experience with BT to clarify its incidence, pathogenesis, management, and outcome. Methods: Charts from 71 consecutive patients with CHC treated with alpha-IFN were reviewed. Forty of these patients were part of a study of 1-yr escalating dose (alpha-IFN, initiated at 2 million units (MU) 3 times per week. ...

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