High-dose interferon-alpha 2b plus ribavirin combination therapy for GB virus-C/hepatitis G virus infection--a study in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

The efficacy of interferon-alpha and ribavirin combination therapy for GB virus C/hepatitis G virus infection is not well understood. We previously conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial using high-dose interferon-alpha 2b with or without ribavirin for patients with interferon-alpha-relapsed chronic hepatitis C.

METHODOLOGY:

Fifty-two patients were randomly assigned and completed the 24-week treatment of interferon-alpha 2b (6 million units three times per week) plus ribavirin (1000 to 1200 mg/daily), or plus a matched placebo. Patients were then followed for an additional 24 weeks.

RESULTS:

Of the 52 patients, 5 patients (9.6%) had hepatitis G virus viremia before or during enrollment. Two patients received interferon-alpha 2b alone and three patients received interferon-alpha 2b and ribavirin combination therapy. At the end of treatment, all of the 5 patients had undetectable hepatitis G virus RNA in sera. Early loss of hepatitis G virus RNA at week 4 of treatment was observed in the 2 patients on combination therapy. Hepatitis G virus RNA reappeared at the end of follow-up in these 5 patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

In conclusion, interferon-alpha 2b and ribavirin combination therapy could induce earlier loss of hepatitis G virus RNA than interferon-alpha 2b alone. Either interferon-alpha 2b alone or interferon-alpha 2b and ribavirin combination therapy achieved transient but not sustained virological response to hepatitis G virus viremia.

• Authors: Pin-Nan Cheng, Chung-Min Jen, Kung-Chia Young, Chi-Yi Chen, Sheng-Nan Lu, Chong-Shan Wang, Ting-Tsung Chang
• Journal: Hepato-gastroenterology (Hepatogastroenterology) 2003 Mar-Apr Vol. 50 Issue 50 Pg. 449-52 ISSN: 0172-6390 [Print] Greece
• PMID: 12749244 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Interferon-alpha
• Ribavirin

Topics

• Adult
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Flaviviridae Infections (complications, drug therapy)
• GB virus C
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (complications, drug therapy)
• Hepatitis, Viral, Human (complications, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Interferon-alpha (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Ribavirin (therapeutic use)
• Viral Load