BACKGROUND To our knowledge, the antiviral activity of pegylated interferon alfa-2a has not been studied in participants with untreated human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection but without chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. METHODS Untreated HIV-1-infected volunteers without HCV infection received 180 microg of pegylated interferon alfa-2a weekly for 12 weeks. Changes in ...

The treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has evolved in the past 15 years and combination of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin is its current standard therapy. However, several side effects are commonly observed and frequently lead to transient or definitive interruption of treatment. Although sarcoidosis in its systemic or cutaneous form is a very rare side effect in such circumstances, so...

background: cytokines and specially interferon-gamma (ifn-g) are largely responsible for the regulation of the protective im­mune response against mycobacterial infections. several studies have clarified the importance of common variants of ifn- g gene regarding the susceptibility to tuberculosis. bacille calmette-guérin (bcg) vaccine that is used to prevent se­vere forms of tuberculosis could ...

BACKGROUND Any benefit of adjuvant interferon alfa-2b for melanoma could depend on dose and duration of treatment. Our aim was to determine whether pegylated interferon alfa-2b can facilitate prolonged exposure while maintaining tolerability. METHODS 1256 patients with resected stage III melanoma were randomly assigned to observation (n=629) or pegylated interferon alfa-2b (n=627) 6 mug/kg pe...

background and aims: chronic hbv infection is one of the most common viral infections in worldwide which many factors such as genetic factors are involved in pathogenesis of disease. gamma interferon (ifn-γ) and its receptor (infgr) play a critical role in the immune response to hbv infection. single nucleotide polymorphisms (snps) are effective on level of gene expression, the aim of this stud...

Background Financial constraints, social taboos and beliefs in alternative medicine are common reasons for delaying or not considering treatment for hepatitis C in India. The present study was planned to analyze the impact of non-banking interest free loan facility in patients affected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in North India.   Methods This one year observational, re...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Patients with high-risk essential thrombocythemia require cytoreductive therapy in order to normalize the elevated platelet counts. We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of pegylated interferon in high-risk essential thrombocythemia in a phase II trial. DESIGN AND METHODS Thirty-six patients with high-risk essential thrombocythemia (median age 54 years; range, 24-72...

A 49-year-old man with cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus developed interstitial pneumonitis documented by surgical lung biopsy specimen evaluation after two weekly doses of pegylated interferon-alpha(2)b in combination with ribavirin. He developed ARDS and died after 26 days of hospitalization from multisystem organ failure. This case suggests that interstitial pulmonary disease can occur with...

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C is an epidemic worldwide since discovery in 1989. Conventional interferon alpha-2b plus Ribavirin therapy was started in 1998 but over all sustained viral response (SVR) rates are much below the desired rates to eradicate the diseases and stopping its epidemic. This study was conducted to access the therapeutic and cost-effectiveness of long acting pegylated interferon al...

We evaluated the prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of interferon alpha-2b, pegylated interferon alpha-2b, poly(I. C), and Ampligen against Modoc virus encephalitis in an animal model for flavivirus infections. All compounds significantly delayed virus-induced morbidity (paralysis) and mortality (due to progressive encephalitis). Viral load (as measured on day 7 postinfection) was significan...