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J Viral Hepat 1998 May;5(3):193-198
Ribavirin monotherapy in patients with chronic Hepatitis C: a retrospective
study of 95 patients.
Zoulim F, Haem J, Ahmed SS, Chossegros P, Habersetzer F, Chevallier
M, Bailly F, Trepo C
Liver Unit, Hotel Dieu Hospital, Lyon, France.
Ribavirin is a purine nucleoside that inhibits the replication of a variety
of RNA viruses and was shown to have a transient efficacy in chronic Hepatitis
C during short-term therapy. We have analysed retrospectively its efficacy in
95 patients with liver biopsy-proven chronic Hepatitis C. Patients received
oral ribavirin (600-1200 mg daily) for a mean duration of 11 months. Alanine
aminotransferase (ALT) levels returned to normal values in 38 patients (40%)
and decreased by more than 50% in 20 other patients (21%). HCV RNA clearance
from serum was observed in seven patients (8%). The biochemical response rate
was higher in patients with chronic hepatitis (54%) than in those with cirrhosis
(24%) (P = 0.003). Clearance of HCV RNA was observed in 10% of the patients
with chronic hepatitis vs 4% of the patients with cirrhosis. In non-responders
to interferon (IFN) therapy, ALT levels returned to normal values in 11 (26%)
and HCV RNA became negative in one (2%), as compared to 48% and 3%, respectively,
in those contraindicated for IFN. In 17 patients in whom paired liver biopsy
specimens were available, the histology activity index (HAI) improved in 12.
Therapy was generally well tolerated although 11 patients had to stop therapy
because of side-effects, which were more common in cirrhotic patients. In conclusion,
our results suggest that long-term administration of ribavirin is well tolerated
and may be beneficial in controlling the progression of chronic Hepatitis C.
This may represent an alternative therapy in patients who have contraindications
for interferon therapy or as a palliative approach in non-responders to IFN.
PMID: 9658373, UI: 98322509
Hepatitis Central
http://hepatitis-central.com
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