The management of side-effects during therapy for hepatitis C.
The results of interferon and ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection have substantially improved in recent years, such that the majority of patients in randomized-controlled trials now achieve a sustained virological response. However, adverse effects are commonplace, often disabling and may lead to interruption or cessation of therapy with subsequent loss of efficacy. Constitutional, neuropsychiatric and haematological reactions have proved particularly troublesome. In this review, we discuss these adverse effects in more detail and highlight recent advances in their management.
Aspinall
R J
RJ
Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Pockros
P J
PJ
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b