[Future outlook for treatment of chronic hepatitis C: IFN + ribavirin combination therapy].
Japan has over 2 million patients infected with HCV and is currently facing a crisis of rapid increase in the number of patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. To overcome this situation, reliance is placed mainly on IFN therapy with the addition of various therapies to treat symptoms. The knowledge gained to date with IFN monotherapy and the expectations for efficacy to be achieved with IFN + ribavirin combination therapy have been presented.
Iino
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Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki 216-8511.
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons