Long-term re-treatment with interferon and ribavirin combination therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C who are non-responders to interferon alone: a preliminary study.
We evaluated the efficacy and tolerance of ribavirin and IFN-alpha combination therapy over 12 months in 28 patients who were non-responders to IFN-alpha alone. Of 24 patients who have finished the therapy, 6 (25%) obtained a complete response (normal ALT and negative HCV RNA) at the end of treatment and maintained a sustained response 27% (5/18).
Vega
P
P
Internal Medicine Service, Juan Canalejo Hospital, Spain.
Castro
A
A
Hermida
M
M
López Calvo
S
S
Pedreira
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019233:Retreatment; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013030:Spain; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons