title: Interferon-alpha2b induction treatment with or without ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C: a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: We aimed to compare the efficacy of interferon-alpha2b (IFN) induction treatment in combination with ribavirin to IFN induction alone in chronic hepatitis C. In total, 125 patients (66 male, 59 female, mean age: 48 +/- 9, range: 21-70) were enrolled and randomized into two arms: In the first, patients received 5 MU/day of IFN for 4 weeks followed by 3 MU/day for the next 4 weeks. Treatment was continued with 3 MU three times a week IFN for an additional 40 weeks. Ribavirin was administered 1000-1200 mg/day according to the body weight for the entire 48-week period. In the second arm, patients received placebo in addition to IFN. Fifty-nine patients were placed in the ribavirin arm and 66 in placebo arm. All patients were genotype 1. At week 48, 24/66 (36%) from the placebo and 31/59 (52%) from the ribavirin group responded (P > 0.05). However, during the 24-week untreated follow-up period, 13/24 (54%) from the placebo, and 8/31 (26%) from the ribavirin group relapsed (P = 0.002.), resulting in a sustained virologic response (SVR) rate of 17% in the placebo and 39% in the ribavirin group (P = 0.005.) In conclusion, IFN induction treatment in combination with ribavirin is superior to IFN induction treatment alone in genotype 1 patients, and the SVR rate of 39% is encouraging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Senturk
authors.forename: Galip
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ersoz
authors.forename: Resat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ozaras
authors.forename: Sabahattin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaymakoglu
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bozkaya
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akdogan
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mert
authors.forename: Mithat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bozdayi
authors.forename: Fehmi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tabak
authors.forename: Necati
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yenice
authors.forename: Gulsen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ozbay
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin