title: Evaluation of amantadine in chronic hepatitis C: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The benefit of amantadine combination therapy, either with interferon (IFN) alone (double therapy) or with ribavirin and IFN (triple therapy) is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the effect of amantadine on the end-of-treatment virological response and the sustained response using meta-analysis of 31 randomized controlled trials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall analysis revealed a significant effect of amantadine. Triple therapy was the best regimen for improving the sustained response (mean difference: 8.4%, 95% CI: 2.4-13.8%, P=0.002). In subgroup analysis, amantadine did not have a significant effect upon naive patients or relapsers. In non-responders, combination therapy with amantadine was associated with a significant effect on the sustained response (mean difference: 8.3%, 95% CI: 1.9-14.6%, P=0.01). In sensitivity analysis, double therapy did not improve virological responses. Conversely, triple therapy tended to improve the end-of-treatment virological response and was associated with a significant effect upon the sustained response (mean difference: 12.7%, 95% CI: 3.8-21.6%, P=0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combination therapy with amantadine is of no effect upon naive patients or relapsers. In non-responders, triple therapy with amantadine improved the sustained response. New randomized controlled trials are required to confirm this meta-analysis.
authors.affiliation: Services d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Hôpital Huriez, CHRU Lille, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deltenre
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henrion
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Canva
authors.forename: Sebastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dharancy
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Texier
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Louvet
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Maeght
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Paris
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mathurin
mesh_terms: D000547:Amantadine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin; D000547:Amantadine