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Aliment Pharmacol Ther 1998 Aug;12(8):717-723
Interferon alpha with ribavirin for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis
C in non-responders or relapsers to interferon monotherapy.
Moreno-Monteagudo JA, Fernandez-Bermejo M, Garcia-Buey L, Sanz P, Iacono LO,
Garcia-Monzon C, Borque MJ, Moreno-Otero R
Liver Unit, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Universidad Autonoma de
Madrid, Spain. morenootero@hotmail.com
BACKGROUND:
A more effective therapy for chronic Hepatitis C virus-infected patients is
needed. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy, tolerance and timing of response to interferon
alpha plus ribavirin in 60 patients with no response or reactivation after interferon
alpha alone.
METHODS:
Sixty patients, 42 non-responders and 18 relapsers, received 3 million units
three times weekly of interferon alpha-2b plus 1-1.2 g ribavirin daily, for
6 months. Basal biochemical and virological (HCV RNA and genotype) parameters
were determined. Clinical examination, recording adverse effects, and laboratory
tests, including viraemia, were carried out at 1, 2, 3 and 6 months.
RESULTS:
A significant (P < 0.001) progressive decrease of HCV RNA and alanine
transaminase (ALT) levels was observed during treatment. On finalizing the sixth
month, 42 patients (70%) had normal ALT and 26 (43.3%) were HCV RNA negative.
Of these 26 complete responders, in 20 the viraemia was undetectable by the
third month, while a late clearance at the sixth month of treatment was observed
in six patients. Response rates were higher in previous responders to interferon
alone (P < 0.05). Mild adverse effects appeared in 46 patients (79.6%),
but only three were withdrawn due to serious side-effects. Significantly (P
< 0.001), haemoglobin and leucocytes decreased, and bilirubin, ferritin and
uric acid increased in the first month of treatment, with no changes thereafter.
CONCLUSIONS:
Interferon alpha plus ribavirin progressively decreased HCV RNA and ALT levels,
achieving a complete response in the six months of treatment in 26 (43.3%) patients.
This combined therapy was well tolerated.
PMID: 9726383, UI: 98392984
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