title: Treatment of hepatitis C.
abstract: The combination of pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin has improved treatment success rates in patients with hepatitis C with sustained response rates of just over 50% overall and more than 70% for those with genotypes 2 and 3. This article reviews the use of combination therapy, contraindications, factors influencing response and describes approaches to specific patient groups.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heathcote
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Main
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b