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[Efficacy of combination therapy with interferon-alpha and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C in relation to liver fibrosis and serum aminotransferase activity].
- Source :
-
Wiadomosci lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960) [Wiad Lek] 2005; Vol. 58 (11-12), pp. 616-21. - Publication Year :
- 2005
-
Abstract
- The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of interferon alpha (IFNalpha)-2b in combination with oral ribavirin for treatment of chronic hepatitis C in relation to age, sex, liver enzymes activity as well as to grading and staging of liver disease in histologic examination. There were 154 adult patients assigned for the retrospective analysis including 69 females and 85 males of 16 to 70 years of age (mean age 43.3 +/- 12 years) treated with IFNalpha and ribavirin for 24 or 48 weeks. Sustained virological response was achieved in 66 patients (42.9%) and sustained biochemical response rate was 44%. Sustained response correlated with younger age, lower baseline AST, GT and ALP activities as well as with lower staging of liver disease. Combination treatment with interferon and ribavirin was significantly more effective in patient under 40 years of age and in patients without cirrhosis. Sex, baseline ALT activity and histological grading of liver disease did not differ between sustained responders and non-responders. Sustained virological response on combination therapy was achieved in 5 out of 7 previous monotherapy relapsers (71.4%) whereas only 5 patients out of 22 monotherapy non-responders benefited from combination therapy (22.7%). In conclusion, efficacy of combination therapy with IFNalpha and ribavirin in patients with liver cirrhosis is less effective and should be considered in chosen situations, especially in younger patients. Normal ALT activity should not be an exclusion criterion to therapy. Combination retherapy in previous monotherapy non-responders seems to be ineffective whereas in monotherapy relapsers good sustained response can be achieved.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Alanine Transaminase blood
Drug Therapy, Combination
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Alanine Transaminase metabolism
Antiviral Agents pharmacology
Antiviral Agents therapeutic use
Hepatitis C, Chronic complications
Hepatitis C, Chronic drug therapy
Interferon-alpha pharmacology
Interferon-alpha therapeutic use
Liver Cirrhosis diagnosis
Liver Cirrhosis etiology
Ribavirin pharmacology
Ribavirin therapeutic use
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- Polish
- ISSN :
- 0043-5147
- Volume :
- 58
- Issue :
- 11-12
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Wiadomosci lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 16594470