BACKGROUND: Little is known about the therapeutic role of intravenous interferon-beta in chronic hepatitis C patients unresponsive to a previous treatment with interferon-alpha. METHODS:Two hundred interferon-alpha non-responders were randomized to receive either intravenous recombinant interferon-beta or interferon-alpha-2b and ribavirin for 12 weeks. The responders in both groups were followed up for a further 48 weeks. RESULTS: At week 12 a biochemical and virologic response was documented in 42% of the patients treated with interferon-beta and in 22% of the patients treated with combination therapy. A sustained response was observed in 21% of the patients treated with interferon-beta and in 13% of those treated with combination therapy, with similar differences on intention-to-treat analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term treatment with intravenous interferon-beta seems to offer a chance for sustained response in a subset of interferon-alpha non-responders. The role of long-term therapy in these patients still remains to be explored.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the therapeutic role of intravenous interferon-beta in chronic hepatitis Cpatients unresponsive to a previous treatment with interferon-alpha. METHODS: Two hundred interferon-alpha non-responders were randomized to receive either intravenous recombinant interferon-beta or interferon-alpha-2b and ribavirin for 12 weeks. The responders in both groups were followed up for a further 48 weeks. RESULTS: At week 12 a biochemical and virologic response was documented in 42% of the patients treated with interferon-beta and in 22% of the patients treated with combination therapy. A sustained response was observed in 21% of the patients treated with interferon-beta and in 13% of those treated with combination therapy, with similar differences on intention-to-treat analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term treatment with intravenous interferon-beta seems to offer a chance for sustained response in a subset of interferon-alpha non-responders. The role of long-term therapy in these patients still remains to be explored.
Authors: Ricardo Moreno-Otero; María Trapero-Marugán; Elena Gómez-Domínguez; Luisa García-Buey; José A Moreno-Monteagudo Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2006-05-07 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: D Festi; L Sandri; G Mazzella; E Roda; T Sacco; T Staniscia; S Capodicasa; A Vestito; A Colecchia Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2004-01 Impact factor: 5.742