Recent i.v.-drug users with chronic hepatitis C can be efficiently treated with daily high dose induction therapy using consensus interferon: an open-label pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the use of high dose consensus-interferon in combination with ribavirin in former iv drug users infected with hepatitis C.


METHODS
We started, before pegylated (PEG)-interferons were available, an open-label study to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of high dose induction therapy with consensus interferon (CIFN) and ribavirin in treatment of naiive patients with chronic hepatitis C. Fifty-eight patients who were former iv drug users, were enrolled receiving 18 microg of CIFN daily for 8 wk, followed by 9 mug daily for up to wk 24 or 48 and 800 mg of ribavirin daily. End point of the study was tolerability and eradication of the virus at wk 48 and sustained virological response at wk 72.


RESULTS
More than 62% of patients responded to the treatment with CIFN at wk 24 or 48, respectively, showing a negative qualitative PCR [genotype 1 fourteen patients (56%), genotype 2 five (50%), genotype 3 thirteen (87%), genotype 4 four (50%)]. Forty-eight percent of genotype 1 patients showed sustained virological response (SVR) six months after the treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
CIFN on a daily basis is well tolerated and side effects like leuko- and thrombocytopenia are moderate. End of therapy (EOT) rates are slightly lower than the newer standard therapy with pegylated interferons. CIFN on a daily basis might be a favourable therapy regimen for patients with GT1 and high viral load or for non-responders after failure of standard therapy.
Witthoeft
Th
T
University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Luebeck, Department of Medicine I, Division of Gastroenterology, Luebeck 23538, Germany. witthoeft@uni-luebeck.de
Fuchs
M
M
Ludwig
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007370:Interferon Type I; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin; C050739:interferon alfacon-1; D000410:Alanine Transaminase