Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4 Pt 1
pubmed:dateCreated
2002-9-25
pubmed:abstractText
To determine whether a higher dosage of interferon (IFN) and/or a prolonged time of administration may improve the efficacy of combination therapy, we conducted a 4-arm randomized trial on patients with chronic hepatitis C relapsing after 1 or more previous treatment courses with IFN monotherapy. Group A (n = 70) received 3 MU IFN alfa-2b 3 times per week plus ribavirin 1,000 mg/d for 12 months; group B (n = 70) received 5 MU 3 times per week plus ribavirin for 12 months; group C (n = 82) received 3 MU 3 times per week plus ribavirin for 6 months, and group D (n = 73) received 5 MU 3 times per week plus ribavirin for 6 months. The primary end point was the clearance of viremia at the end of 6-month follow-up: test results for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA were negative in 54% of group A, 56% of group B, 40% of group C, and 49% of group D patients (P = NS). Among patients with genotype 1 and 4, the sustained response was significantly higher in groups A and B than in group C (45%, 49% vs. 22%, P =.03; group D = 33%, P = NS). In patients with genotype 2 and 3, the sustained virologic response was not affected by the different regimens (group A = 69%, group B = 68%, group C = 62%, group D = 71%, P = NS). In conclusion, duration of therapy rather than IFN dosage is more important in increasing the sustained virologic rate among HCV-positive patients with genotype 1 and 4 relapsing after IFN monotherapy; patients with genotypes 2 and 3 can be effectively retreated with a 6-month course of combination therapy, avoiding unnecessary side effects and waste of resources.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Oct
pubmed:issn
0270-9139
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
36
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
959-66
pubmed:dateRevised
2011-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Adult, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Antiviral Agents, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Biopsy, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Drug Therapy, Combination, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Female, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Follow-Up Studies, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Hepacivirus, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Hepatitis C, Chronic, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Interferon-alpha, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Liver, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Male, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Middle Aged, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Multivariate Analysis, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-RNA, Viral, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Recombinant Proteins, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Recurrence, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Ribavirin, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Treatment Outcome, pubmed-meshheading:12297844-Viral Load
pubmed:year
2002
pubmed:articleTitle
A randomized 4-arm multicenter study of interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C relapsing after interferon monotherapy.
pubmed:affiliation
Dipartimento di Gastroenterologia, Ospedale Molinette, Torino, Italy. g.saracco@tin.it
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Clinical Trial, Randomized Controlled Trial, Multicenter Study