title: Treatment of recurrent hepatitis C (genotype 1) with pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin combination and maintenance therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims at evaluating the efficacy of treatment with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alfa-2b and ribavirin in patients with recurrent hepatitis C (genotype 1) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and the impact of this therapy on hepatic fibrosis at the end of conventional therapy and at the end of a period of maintenance treatment in non-responder patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two consecutive patients diagnosed with recurrent HCV were considered candidates for antiviral therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten patients (31.2%) interrupted therapy due to side effects; sustained virological response (SVR) was observed in 27.2%, sustained biochemical response (SBR) in 31.8% and NR in 40.9% of cases. Eighteen patients underwent a biopsy at the end of conventional treatment: improved fibrosis score in all patients with SVR, improved score in 1 patient with SBR and stable score in 6 patients with SBR, worse score in 1 NR patient and stable in 6 NR patients. Six NR patients with stable score submitted to a maintenance therapy: improved score in 1 patient and stable score in 5 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In recurrent hepatitis C, in spite of the type of response, treatment slows down hepatic fibrotic evolution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Specialist Medicine, S. Martino Hospital, Genoa, Italy. gianni.testino@hsanmartino.it
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Testino
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sumberaz
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ansaldi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borro
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: A Ornella
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ancarani
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Icardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b