Interferon alfa-2b alone or in combination with ketoprofen as treatment for interferon-naive chronic hepatitis C patients.

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may amplify the anti-viral effect of alpha-interferon in vitro but in vivo data are still controversial, Aim: To test the hypothesis that ketoprofen may increase the rate of response to alpha-interferon of chronic hepatitis C patients. Methods: Fifty patients with chronic hepatitis C who had never received alpha-interferon were randomly assigned to receive 3-8 MU of alpha 2b-interferon, three times weekly for 6 months, alone or in association with ketoprofen at a dose of 200 mg/day five times weekly. The virological response to treatment (undetectable HCV RNA in serum) was evaluated after 3 months and at the end of treatment, and 6 and 12 months after therapy withdrawal. Results: One patient under combination therapy stopped the ketoprofen for persisting epigastric pain. Complete response under treatment was observed in 15 out of 24 (62.5%) patients receiving alpha 2b-interferon alone and in 14 out of 26 (53.8%) patients under combination therapy (P = N.S.). One year after the end of treatment, a sustained response was seen in 4 out of 24 (16.2%) patients treated with alpha 2b-interferon and in 5 out of 26 (19.2%) patients having received the combination (P = N.S.). Conclusion: Administration of ketoprofen does not increase either the primary or the sustained response to alpha 2b-interferon therapy of interferon-naive chronic hepatitis C patients.