Chronic hepatitis C: viral clearance several months after discontinuation of therapy in two non-responders.
When hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection becomes chronic, spontaneous viral eradication is a rare event. We report two patients with chronic hepatitis C, non-responders to standard interferon alone. They were treated with Pegylated interferon plus ribavirin. At the end of therapy, HCV RNA was still detectable. Several months after stopping treatment, aminotransferase level normalized and HCV RNA became undetectable. No case of sustained viral response happening several months after therapy has been yet described. During long-term follow-up of non-responders, when a persistent normalization of aminotransferase level is observed after stopping treatment, viral clearance could be suspected.
Denis
J
J
Service d'Hépato-Gastroenterologie, Centre Hospitalier Sud-Francilien, quartier du Canal-Courcouronnes, 91014 Evry Cedex, France.
Rautou
P E
PE
Lambare
B
B
Herbert
S
S
Auray-Cartier
V
V
Asselah
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a