title: High-Dose interferon-alpha2b plus ribavirin for retreatment of interferon-nonresponsive patients infected with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus.
abstract: Ten patients with interferon-nonresponsive chronic hepatitis C were treated with high-dose interferon-alpha2b (IFN-alpha2b; 20 MU/day for two days, then 3 MU/day for 24 weeks, followed by 3 MU three times weekly for 24 more weeks) plus ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day). End-of-treatment virologic responses occurred in 50% of cases and sustained virologic responses in 37.5%. Hepatitis C virus RNA decreased significantly (2.15 logs; P < 0.0001) after the two 20-MU interferon doses but rebounded when the interferon dose was lowered to 3 MU/day. Thereafter, hepatitis C virus RNA showed a progressive, significant decrease, most notably at week 10 (3.3 logs; P = 0.001). Patients with a sustained response exhibited a more pronounced hepatitis C virus RNA decrease, especially from weeks 3 to 8 (P = 0.036). Two patients discontinued therapy because of adverse events, and one patient required a ribavirin dose reduction. Retreatment with an initial high-dose IFN-alpha2b plus ribavirin significantly reduces viral load in genotype 1-infected, interferon-nonresponsive patients.
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Hospital General Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morral
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martell
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stalgis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Esteban
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019233:Retreatment; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin