Treatment of chronic hepatitis C in nonresponders to interferon monotherapy.
Sixty percent of patients fail to respond to interferon monotherapy. African-Americans with hepatitis C appear to respond less well to interferon monotherapy. Retreatment with a higher dose of consensus interferon for 48 weeks has led to a sustained virologic response rate of 13%. As a group, interferon nonresponders who breakthrough while on interferon monotherapy seem to have a more favorable response rate to a repeat course of treatment. Retreatment with interferon and ribavirin for 6 months in nonresponders led to a sustained virologic response rate of 21%. Preliminary results from two trials in the United States demonstrate similar treatment efficacy. There is now evidence that maintenance interferon therapy may also be beneficial in interferon monotherapy nonresponders.
Kwo
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Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 975 West Walnut Street, IB 424, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5121, USA. pkwo@iupui.edu.
D001741:Black or African American; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012008:Recurrence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons; D007501:Iron; D000410:Alanine Transaminase