title: Extended therapy duration for therapy-refractory hepatitis C patients with genotype 2.
abstract: We devised an extended 72-wk peginterferon-α-2a/ribavirin therapy regimen for the retreatment of highly intractable cases, i.e., 48-wk peginterferon-α-2b/ribavirin therapy-intractable cases. Although 2 cases achieved a rapid virological response to 72-wk peginterferon-α-2a/ribavirin therapy, 1 case failed to achieve a sustained virological response. Although the reason for this difference in the effectiveness of 72-wk peginterferon-α-2a/ribavirin therapy between the cases was unclear, the rebound phenomenon of serum transaminase after 48-wk peginterferon-α-2b/ribavirin therapy and the resultant lower viral load compared to that before 48-wk peginterferon-α-2b/ribavirin therapy might have influenced the treatment outcome. Thus, it may be beneficial to consider the rebound phenomenon of serum transaminase and the changes in viral load resulting from previous interferon-based therapy and then cautiously determine the indication and the timing of the administration of 72-wk peginterferon-α-2a/ribavirin in highly intractable cases. Further studies should be performed to confirm this strategy.
authors.affiliation: Ken Sato, Masatoshi Yanagisawa, Hiroaki Hashizume, Yuichi Yamazaki, Norio Horiguchi, Satoru Kakizaki, Masatomo Mori, Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yanagisawa
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hashizume
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Horiguchi
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kakizaki
authors.forename: Masatomo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a
keywords: Extended therapy duration; Genotype 2 and high viral loads; Hepatitis C; Highly intractable case; Interferon-based therapy
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