Histological improvement in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with combination of Alpha-Interferon and ribavirin who failed previously to respond to interferon monotherapy (EN)

Sypsa V.,

Delladestima J.,

Angelopoulou P.,

Anagnostopoulos G.,

Tassopoulos N.,

Hantzakis A.,

SUMMARY Background/Aim: Half of the patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) show no response to alpha-interferon (a- IFN) and no alternative modality has so far proven to be effective. Combination of a-IFN with ribavirin has shown promising results in naive patients and relapsers. The aim of the present study was to assess the sustained virological and histological response after combination in 20 chronic hepatitis patients, non-responders (NR) to a previous a- IFN monotherapy. Methods: Twenty NR patients were treated with a-IFN (3MU three times a week subcutaneously) and ribavirin (1000-1200 mg daily peros) for 48 weeks. Serum levels of HCVRNA and ALT levels were tested at the end of treatment and 24 weeks post-treatment while histological evaluation was done at the end of follow-up. Results: Genotype was 1a in 2, 1b in 11, 3a in 5 and 4 in 2 patients. Serum ALT levels normalized in 14 (70%) and HCVRNA became seronegative in 8 (40%) patients by the end of treatment. However, six months posttreatment, ALT levels remained normal in 4(20%) non-responder patients. Serum HCVRNA was positive in 15 and remained negative in 5 (25%) sustained responder patients. Sustained response rate was 0% in genotype 1, 60% in genotype 3a and 100% in genotype 4. Necroinflammatory activity improved in 68,4%, showed no change in 26,3% and worsened in 5,3% cases (ranked assessment). Treatment was well tolerated and ribavirin was decreased in 5 (25%) patients. Conclusions: Combination treatment was well tolerated and the sustained response rate was 25%, being higher particularly in the non- 1 genotype patients. Induction therapy with a-IFN in combination with ribavirin should be further evaluated in this group of patients. Key Words: Chronic hepatitis C, A-interferon, Cirrhosis, Ribavirin (EN)

info:eu-repo/semantics/article

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Ελληνική Γαστροεντερολογική Εταιρία

Annals of Gastroenterology

Αγγλική γλώσσα

2007-03-19

http://www.annalsgastro.gr/index.php/annalsgastro/article/view/90

Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology (EN)

1792-7463

1108-7471

Annals of Gastroenterology; Volume 14, No 4 (2001) (EN)