Conclusion: Demonstrating the association between the presence of oval cells and the progression of liver diseases could provide an useful marker for understanding the correlation between the presence of oval cells and progression of disease and creation of future treatment. OL-006 Efficacy, tolerability and safety of personalized low-dose IFN treatment in patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis and severe complications Object: To observe the efficacy, tolerability and safety of personalized

more »

... ow-dose IFN treatment in patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis and severe complications. Method: Personalized low-dose IFN treatment was performed in 61 patients. Less than 3 million units of personalized low-dose natural IFN-alpha was administered QOD intramuscularly or less than 50 μg Peg-IFN alpha-2b QW intrasubcutaneously, which depended on patients tolerability, and plus Ribavirin 600 mg/day. The course of treatment was at least 24 weeks. Some patients received more than 2 years IFN maintenance therapy. Results: Twenty of the 62 patients showed a rapid virological response in 4 weeks treatment (32.25%). Twenty eight of 62 patients showed a complete early virological response in 12 weeks treatment (45.16%). Thirty four of 62 patients showed HCV RNA undetectable in 24 weeks IFN therapy (54.83%). ALT levels normalized (about 40 IU/L) at the end of 24 weeks therapy. 11 of 25 patients had a sustained virological response who were given more than 2 years Maintenance Therapy (44%). Definitive discontinuation of therapy was necessary in 7 patients (11.29 %) because of side effects. Conclusion: Personalized low-dose IFN and ribavirin combination therapy was useful and safe in some patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis and severe complications for whom standard-dose interferon and ribavirin combination therapy was difficult.