Treatment with pegylated interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin in patients unresponsive to previous treatments with standard interferon as monotherapy or combined with ribavirin.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Little information is available on the effect of pegylated interferon (PEG) and ribavirin (RBV) in patients with chronic hepatitis due to virus C (CHC) who were non-responders to previous treatment.

OBJECTIVES:

To evaluate response to treatment in patients who were non-responders to previous treatment.

METHODS:

One hundred and twenty-four patients who were non-responders to previous treatment were included. All patients were treated with PEG alpha 2b interferon (dose: 1.5 mg/kg body weight) and RBV (weight-dependent dosage). A qualitative PCR of virus C after six months was evaluated. In those in whom this was positive, treatment was discontinued; in those who were negative treatment was continued to the end of the year.

RESULTS:

Response following treatment (RFT) was 35.4% (44 patients), and sustained viral response (SVR) 29.8% (37 patients). No relation was observed between RFT, SVR and any previous treatment. RFT was dependent on low initial viremia and SVR was significantly and independently related to low serum hepatitis C RNA and a non-1 genotype. In general, treatment was well tolerated. Medication was discontinued in 5 patients, and doses reduced in 18.

CONCLUSION:

On retreatment with PEG and RBV a SVR of 29.8% was achieved in patients who had not responded to previous treatment, so its use in this group of patients is indicated.

• Authors: F Carnicer, P Zapater, A Gutiérrez, A García, F Ruiz, M López, Grupo de Estudio de Hepatitis de la Provincia de Alicante (GEHPA)
• Journal: Revista espanola de enfermedades digestivas (Rev Esp Enferm Dig) Vol. 97 Issue 5 Pg. 306-16 (May 2005) ISSN: 1130-0108 [Print] Spain
• PMID: 16004522 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha
• Recombinant Proteins
• Polyethylene Glycols
• Ribavirin
• peginterferon alfa-2b

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Polyethylene Glycols
• Recombinant Proteins
• Ribavirin (therapeutic use)
• Treatment Failure