摘要
Chronic hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection can cause liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Several studies have demonstrated that the eradication of HCV reduces the occurrence of HCC. In Japan, as many people live to an advanced age, HCV-infected patients are also getting older, and the age at HCC diagnosis has also increased. Although older HCV-infected patients have a risk of developing HCC, the treatment response to peginterferon-alpha plus ribavirin therapy is relatively poor in these patients because of drop-out or discontinuation of this treatment due to adverse events. It is established that the mechanism of action between interferon-alpha and interferon-beta is slightly different. Short-term natural interferon-beta monotherapy is effective for patients with acute hepatitis C and patients infected with HCV genotype 2 and low viral loads. Natural interferon-beta plus ribavirin for 48 wk or for 24 wk are also effective for some patients with HCV genotype 1 or HCV genotype 2. Natural interferon-beta plus ribavirin has been used for certain "difficult-totreat" HCV-infected patients. In the era of direct-acting anti-virals, natural interferon-beta plus ribavirin may be one of the therapeutic options for special groups of HCV-infected patients. In the near future, signal transduction pathways of interferon-beta will inform further directions.
Chronic hepatitis C virus （HCV） infection can cause liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）.Several studies have demonstrated that the eradicationof HCV reduces the occurrence of HCC. In Japan, asmany people live to an advanced age, HCV-infectedpatients are also getting older, and the age at HCCdiagnosis has also increased. Although older HCV-infectedpatients have a risk of developing HCC, the treatmentresponse to peginterferon-alpha plus ribavirin therapy isrelatively poor in these patients because of drop-out ordiscontinuation of this treatment due to adverse events.It is established that the mechanism of action betweeninterferon-alpha and interferon-beta is slightly different.Short-term natural interferon-beta monotherapy iseffective for patients with acute hepatitis C and patientsinfected with HCV genotype 2 and low viral loads.Natural interferon-beta plus ribavirin for 48 wk or for24 wk are also effective for some patients with HCVgenotype 1 or HCV genotype 2. Natural interferon-betaplus ribavirin has been used for certain ＂difficult-totreat＂HCV-infected patients. In the era of direct-actinganti-virals, natural interferon-beta plus ribavirin maybe one of the therapeutic options for special groupsof HCV-infected patients. In the near future, signaltransduction pathways of interferon-beta will informfurther directions.
