title: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of interferon alfa2a with and without amantadine as initial treatment for chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: Although the antiviral effects of amantadine sulphate (1-aminoadamantan sulphate) have not been characterized for the hepatitis C virus (HCV), previous pilot studies have suggested promising results in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy, safety, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of interferon alfa (IFN-alpha) alone or in combination with oral amantadine for treatment of chronic hepatitis C. One hundred nineteen previously untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C were randomly allocated to treatment with IFN-alpha2a at a dose of 6 megaunits 3 times a week subcutaneously for 24 weeks, followed by 3 megaunits thrice weekly for an additional 24 weeks plus amantadine sulphate administered orally 100 mg twice a day for 48 weeks or the same IFN regimen plus a matched placebo. The primary endpoint was undectable serum HCV RNA (<1,000 copies/mL) at week 24 after treatment. At the end of treatment and the 24-week follow-up period serum HCV RNA was undetectable in 20 (34%) and 6 (10%) of the 59 patients treated with the combination IFN-alpha plus amantadine and in 20 (33%) and 13 (22%) of the 60 patients treated with IFN-alpha alone, respectively (P = n.s.). Discontinuation of therapy for adverse events was similar in both treatment groups. Although treatment with IFN-alpha worsened HRQOL, combination with amantadine showed a substantial trend to improve fatigue and vigor. In conclusion, combination therapy IFN-alpha plus amantadine is as effective as IFN-alpha monotherapy in previously untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik II, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt a.M., Germany. Zeuzem@em.uni-frankfurt.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zeuzem
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Teuber
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Naumann
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raedle
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hopf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000547:Amantadine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000547:Amantadine