AIM: To assess the efficacy of triple therapy (peginte-rferon or high dose standard interferon, plus ribavirin and amantadine) in nonresponders to prior combination therapy. METHODS:A total of 196 patients were enrolled in a multicenter, open, randomized study. Patients were given 180 mug/wk of peginterferon-alpha-2a (40 kDa) plus ribavirin (800-1000 mg/d) and amantadine (200 mg/d) for 48 wk (group A) or interferon-alpha-2a (6 MU/d for 4 wk, 3 MU/d for 20 wk, and 3 MU tiw for 24 wk) plus ribavirin (800-1000 mg/d) and amantadine (200 mg/d) for 48 wk (group B). RESULTS:Overall sustained virologic response (SVR) was 26.6% (32.1% and 19.5% in group A and B, P = 0.057). Baseline ALT > 120 UI/L (OR 2.4; 95% CI: 1.11 to 5.20; P = 0.026) and HCV RNA negativity after 12 wk (OR 8.7; 95% CI: 3.87 to 19.74; P < 0.0001) were independently associated with SVR. Therapy discontinuation occurred less frequently in patients treated with peginterferon than standard interferon (P = 0.036). CONCLUSION: More than 25% of nonresponders to combination therapy can eradicate HCV infection when retreated with triple therapy, especially if they have a high baseline ALT and are treated with pegylated interferon.
RCT Entities:
AIM: To assess the efficacy of triple therapy (peginte-rferon or high dose standard interferon, plus ribavirin and amantadine) in nonresponders to prior combination therapy. METHODS: A total of 196 patients were enrolled in a multicenter, open, randomized study. Patients were given 180 mug/wk of peginterferon-alpha-2a (40 kDa) plus ribavirin (800-1000 mg/d) and amantadine (200 mg/d) for 48 wk (group A) or interferon-alpha-2a (6 MU/d for 4 wk, 3 MU/d for 20 wk, and 3 MU tiw for 24 wk) plus ribavirin (800-1000 mg/d) and amantadine (200 mg/d) for 48 wk (group B). RESULTS: Overall sustained virologic response (SVR) was 26.6% (32.1% and 19.5% in group A and B, P = 0.057). Baseline ALT > 120 UI/L (OR 2.4; 95% CI: 1.11 to 5.20; P = 0.026) and HCV RNA negativity after 12 wk (OR 8.7; 95% CI: 3.87 to 19.74; P < 0.0001) were independently associated with SVR. Therapy discontinuation occurred less frequently in patients treated with peginterferon than standard interferon (P = 0.036). CONCLUSION: More than 25% of nonresponders to combination therapy can eradicate HCV infection when retreated with triple therapy, especially if they have a high baseline ALT and are treated with pegylated interferon.
Authors: Edward L Krawitt; Takamaru Ashikaga; Stuart R Gordon; Nicholas Ferrentino; Mary Ann Ray; Steven D Lidofsky Journal: J Hepatol Date: 2005-08 Impact factor: 25.083
Authors: K Ishak; A Baptista; L Bianchi; F Callea; J De Groote; F Gudat; H Denk; V Desmet; G Korb; R N MacSween Journal: J Hepatol Date: 1995-06 Impact factor: 25.083
Authors: Alessandra Mangia; Gioacchino Leandro; Beat Helbling; Eberhard L Renner; Marco Tabone; Laura Sidoli; Simona Caronia; Graham R Foster; Stephan Zeuzem; Thomas Berg; Vito Di Marco; Nicolina Cino; Angelo Andriulli Journal: J Hepatol Date: 2004-03 Impact factor: 25.083