Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
2001-3-6
pubmed:abstractText
Adding the nucleoside analog ribavirin (RBV) to interferon (IFN) for treatment of HCV has improved the sustained response rates, but the mechanism by which RBV mediates viral clearance is not fully understood. In this study, a highly sensitive method (Codes Amplicor HCV Monitor) was used to monitor the early (first 12 weeks of therapy) and long-term virological response in 20 patients who were treated first with IFN and later, due to non-sustained response, with IFN-RBV. All 10 IFN relapsers displayed a prompt virological response at week 4 to both IFN and IFN-RBV therapy; nine of them showed a sustained response to IFN-RBV. Out of 10 IFN non-responders, five showed a sustained response to IFN-RBV. Four of these were HCV RNA-negative at week 4 of IFN-RBV therapy and two of them had a transient early virological response (RNA-negative at weeks 4-8) to IFN alone. Overall, of the 14 patients (nine IFN relapsers, five IFN non-responders) with a sustained response to IFN-RBV, 11 and 13 had HCV RNA below 2000 copies/ml at week 4 of IFN and IFN-RBV, respectively, as compared with one and one of six patients without a sustained response to IFN-RBV (p < 0.02). Thus, addition of RBV to IFN increased both viral clearance during the first 12 weeks of therapy and the rate of sustained response. Loss of viremia at week 4 of IFN was associated with a sustained response to IFN-RBV and was seen in 11 of 13 patients (85%) with genotypes 2 or 3, as compared with one of seven patients (14%) with genotype 1 (p = 0.0044).
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0036-5548
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
33
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
110-5
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2001
pubmed:articleTitle
Monitoring virological responses to interferon-ribavirin and interferon monotherapy of chronic hepatitis C re-treated due to relapse or non-response.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Götehorg, Sweden.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't