[Pegylated interferon plus ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C. More than half of patients show a lasting response].
In the past ten years, treatment of chronic hepatitis C has made great advances. Only five years ago, not more than 16% of the patients experienced a lasting cure; now the HC virus can be eliminated in 54-56%. This has been made possible by an improvement to interferon-alpha by pegylation, that is, retardation, resulting in appreciably longer and more uniform active levels, together with improved eradication by the combination with ribavirin. At the same time, treatment has become more convenient for the patient, since interferon need now be administrated only once weekly, usually on an outpatient basis. In view of the side effects of interferon, treatment must be closely monitored. In the meantime, concrete treatment recommendations are available for every genetic type of HCV, for patients experiencing relapse, and for primary treatment failures.
Zeuzem
S
S
Medizinische Klinik II, Zentrum der Inneren Medizin, Klinikum der Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt/Main. Zeuzem@em.uni-frankfurt.de
D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a