Clinical trial: A randomized trial of pegylated-interferon-α-2a plus ribavirin with or without amantadine in treatment-naïve or relapsing chronic hepatitis C patients

Background The combination therapy of pegylated-interferon-α2a plus ribavirin is considered as the standard of care for patients with chronic hepatitis C. A sustained viral response is obtained in 40-50% of naïve patients with genotype 1 and in around 80% of naïve patients with genotype 2 or 3. Aim To assess whether amantadine, added to the conventional combination therapy, could improve the treatment efficacy. Methods In all, 630 patients (intent-to-treat population) with chronic hepatitis C were randomized into two groups: 316 patients (treatment group) received pegylated-interferon-α2a (180 μg once weekly) plus ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/daily) with amantadine (200 mg/daily); 314 patients (control group) received pegylated-interferon-α2a (180 μg once weekly) plus ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/daily) without amantadine. The duration of the treatment was 48 weeks for genotypes 1, 4, 5 and 6, and 24 weeks for genotypes 2 and 3. Results There was no statistically significant difference between treatments groups for any of the variables tested for. Subgroups of patients likely to take advantage of the addition of amantadine were not identified. Conclusions This large study definitely excludes the role of amantadine in addition of conventional combination therapy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
SCOPUS: ar.j
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