title: A comparison of the exponential decay slope between PEG-IFN alfa-2b/ribavirin and IFN alfa-2b/ribavirin combination therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b infection and a high viral load.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A high virological response rate can often be shown to be obtained with PEG-IFN alpha-2b and ribavirin combination therapy in chronic hepatitis C patients. Viral dynamics have been utilized for the evaluation of antiviral effects, especially the exponential second decay slope, which represents the elimination of infected cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine patients were randomly assigned to the IFN alpha-2b group (n = 26) or the PEG-IFN alpha-2b group (n = 23). Ribavirin was administered equally to both groups. Measuring the serum concentration of HCVRNA, the exponential viral decay during phase 1 and 2 was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The exponential decay slope in phase 2 during the first 2 weeks was greater in the IFN alpha-2b group than in the PEG-IFN alpha-2b group; however, from weeks 3 to 4, it was greater in the PEG-IFN alpha-2b group than in the IFN alpha-2b group. Interestingly, in the PEG-IFN alpha-2b group, the exponential decay slope was greater from weeks 3 to 4 after initiating combination therapy than during the weeks 1-2 (p < 0.01), despite administration of the same PEG-IFN alpha-2b dose (1.5 microg/kg once weekly).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In PEG-IFN alpha-2b and ribavirin combination therapy, elimination of infected cells may be pronounced following an increase in serum ribavirin concentration in chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 1b infection and a high viral load.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red-Cross Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. nizumi@musashino.jrc.or.jp
authors.forename: Namiki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asahina
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurosaki
authors.forename: Masakatsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uchihara
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuchiya
authors.forename: Kousei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamano
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Itakura
authors.forename: Shozo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyake
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a