title: Triple therapy of initial high-dose interferon with ribavirin and amantadine for patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We previously reported the potential effect of combination therapy of an initial high-dose interferon (IFN) and amantadine on the eradication of HCV-RNA in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The additive effects of amantadine on interferon and ribavirin combination therapy remain controversial. In this study we investigated the efficacy of initial high-dose IFN with ribavirin and amantadine on the virological response in patients with chronic hepatitis C with a high viral load of genotype 1b.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two patients with high viral loads of genotype 1b hepatitis C virus were enrolled in this pilot study. Patients were administered IFN-beta for four weeks and then IFN-alpha2b for 22 weeks with daily oral administration of ribavirin and amantadine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A sustained virological response (SVR) was shown in 31.8% (seven of 22 patients). With the naïve patients, the SVR rate was 21.4% (three of 14 patients). In patients who could not eradicate HCV-RNA by previous IFN monotherapy, the SVR rate was 50% (four of eight patients).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Triple therapy with an initial high dose of IFN with ribavirin and amantadine may be effective, especially for chronic hepatitis C IFN-retreatment patients with a high viral load of genotype 1b.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Hirokazu
authors: H
authors: Uyama
authors: Hideji
authors: H
authors: Nakamura
authors: Eijiro
authors: E
authors: Hayashi
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Ogawa
authors: Hirayuki
authors: H
authors: Enomoto
authors: Kenya
authors: K
authors: Yoshida
authors: Yorihide
authors: Y
authors: Okuda
authors: Mitsunari
authors: M
authors: Yamamoto
authors: Toshikazu
authors: T
authors: Hada
authors: Norio
authors: N
authors: Hayashi