Consensus interferon and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C who were nonresponders to pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin.

Recent studies suggest that consensus interferon and ribavirin is effective in retreating patients with chronic hepatitis C who failed therapy with interferon alfa and ribavirin. The objective of the present study was to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of consensus interferon and ribavirin in patients who did not respond to pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin. We retrospectively identified 137 consecutive nonresponders to pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin and initiated patients on daily treatment with consensus interferon 15 mug subcutaneously and weight-based ribavirin for 48 weeks. If patients were HCV RNA negative at 12 weeks, the dose was reduced to 15 mug three times weekly for the remaining 36 weeks. The sustained virologic response rate was 37%. Daily consensus interferon therapy was safe and well tolerated in all patients. No dose reductions were required, and no patient discontinued therapy. Further studies of consensus interferon and ribavirin in nonresponders are warranted.