High-dose interferon-alpha 2b plus ribavirin combination therapy for GB virus-C/hepatitis G virus infection--a study in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
OBJECTIVE
The efficacy of interferon-alpha and ribavirin combination therapy for GB virus C/hepatitis G virus infection is not well understood. We previously conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial using high-dose interferon-alpha 2b with or without ribavirin for patients with interferon-alpha-relapsed chronic hepatitis C.


METHODS
Fifty-two patients were randomly assigned and completed the 24-week treatment of interferon-alpha 2b (6 million units three times per week) plus ribavirin (1000 to 1200 mg/daily), or plus a matched placebo. Patients were then followed for an additional 24 weeks.


RESULTS
Of the 52 patients, 5 patients (9.6%) had hepatitis G virus viremia before or during enrollment. Two patients received interferon-alpha 2b alone and three patients received interferon-alpha 2b and ribavirin combination therapy. At the end of treatment, all of the 5 patients had undetectable hepatitis G virus RNA in sera. Early loss of hepatitis G virus RNA at week 4 of treatment was observed in the 2 patients on combination therapy. Hepatitis G virus RNA reappeared at the end of follow-up in these 5 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, interferon-alpha 2b and ribavirin combination therapy could induce earlier loss of hepatitis G virus RNA than interferon-alpha 2b alone. Either interferon-alpha 2b alone or interferon-alpha 2b and ribavirin combination therapy achieved transient but not sustained virological response to hepatitis G virus viremia.
Cheng
Pin-Nan
PN
Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Jen
Chung-Min
CM
Young
Kung-Chia
KC
Chen
Chi-Yi
CY
Lu
Sheng-Nan
SN
Wang
Chong-Shan
CS
Chang
Ting-Tsung
TT
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D029407:GB virus C; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin