Ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C.
We evaluated oral ribavirin as therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection in a pilot study including 10 patients. Patients (7 men, 3 women; mean age 40 years, range 23-54) all had biopsy-proven chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis and were repeatedly positive for antibodies to hepatitis C virus. Treatment was with oral ribavirin 1000-1200 mg per day in two divided doses for 12 weeks. The median serum alanine aminotransferase concentration for all patients at enrollment was 3.15 mu kat/l (range 1.22-7.79) and decreased significantly (p less than 0.005) to 1.25 mu kat/l (0.78-2.04) after 12 weeks of treatment. Within 6 weeks of the end of treatment the median serum alanine aminotransferase concentration was not significantly different from that before treatment. Side-effects were mild and fully reversible after cessation of therapy. We conclude that ribavirin is the first drug to offer a potentially effective oral treatment for chronic hepatitis C. It should be further evaluated in controlled trials, possibly in combination with interferon alpha.
Reichard
O
O
Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska Institute, Danderyds Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Andersson
J
J
Schvarcz
R
R
Weiland
O
O
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D012254:Ribavirin; D000410:Alanine Transaminase