title: Interferon and ribavirin with or without amantadine for interferon non-responders with chronic hepatitis C. A randomized, controlled pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Treatment options for interferon-non-responders (INF-NR) with chronic hepatitis C are limited. Our aim was to compare efficacy and tolerability of an interferon-alfa-2a (INF), ribavirin (RIBA) and amantadine (AMA) combination with those of an INF and RIBA combination.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 patients with biopsy proven chronic hepatitis C were randomised to INFRIBA-AMA or INF-RIBA, stratified according to genotype (1/4 versus 2/3) and presence or absence of cirrhosis. They were treated with INF 6 million units subcutaneously daily for the first four weeks, RIBA (>or=75 kg 1200 mg, <75 kg 1000 mg) with or without AMA 200 mg daily. If serum hepatitis C RNA was undetectable after 28 days, therapy was continued for a total of 48 weeks and INF was reduced to 6 million units thrice weekly (tiw). After stopping therapy all patients were followed up for six months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The end of treatment response was 25% (4/16) after INF-RIBA-AMA and 29% (4/14) after INF-RIBA, and a sustained virologic response (SVR) was observed in 19% (3/16) in the triple therapy group compared to 14% (2/14) in the double therapy group, with a similar safety and tolerability profile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although similarly tolerated triple combination with INF, RIBA and AMA does not seem to offer relevant efficacy advantages over double combination with INF and RIBA in INF non-responders with chronic hepatitis C.
authors: Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Christa
authors: C
authors: Wenger
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Bischof
authors: Jean-Jacques
authors: JJ
authors: Gonvers
authors: Eberhard L
authors: EL
authors: Renner
authors: Beat
authors: B
authors: Mullhaupt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000547:Amantadine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin; D000547:Amantadine