title: What the infectious disease physician needs to know about pegylated interferon and ribavirin.
abstract: The treatment of chronic hepatitis C is rapidly evolving from triple therapy to regimens that do not require interferon or even ribavirin. However, pegylated interferon and ribavirin will remain the backbone of hepatitis C therapy for the time being. This review summarizes the pharmacokinetics of peginterferon and ribavirin with a particular emphasis on their side-effect profile and management. Finally, the continued role of peginterferon and ribavirin in future therapies will be discussed.
authors: Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1800, USA.
authors: Naveen
authors: N
authors: Gara
authors: Marc G
authors: MG
authors: Ghany
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D055552:Infectious Disease Medicine; D007372:Interferons / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons
keywords: adverse events; chronic hepatitis C treatment; peginterferon; ribavirin