Clinical studies on the effect of interferon α(IFN α) on bone mineral density and bone metabolism

摘要

Interferon α(IFNα) is a cytokine produced by cells in contactwith virus and has an action of counteracting proliferation of virusand cells. Whereas IFNα has been shown to suppress osteoclasticactivity in vitro, scarcely any valid informations have beenavailable regarding in vivo effects of IFNα in skeletal systems,especially in humans. In the present study, patients with chronicactive hepatitis due to hepatitis C virus who Were considered asindicated for the treatment with INFα were administered 6 millionunits of IFNα for 12 weeks.