Induction with ribavirin in a relapsing patient with chronic HCV hepatitis.
In this case, a new possible strategy for treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) relapsing patients is described. The target of anti-HCV therapy is sustained viral response, but strategies for improving sustained viral response in relapsing patients would be useful, and ribavirin is crucial for obtaining viral response. Six weeks of induction therapy with ribavirin were used to improve efficacy of standard combined antiviral therapy in a patient relapsing to standard therapy. In the present case, the patient had undergone a retreatment with the same regimen with the exception of the six-week induction period with ribavirin. Use of induction therapy with ribavirin in this case has allowed for a sustained viral response without prolonging the interferon exposure time in retreatment.
Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy.
Claudio
C
Ucciferri
Paola
P
Mancino
Francesca
F
Vignale
Jacopo
J
Vecchiet
Katia
K
Falasca
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin