Effects of alpha interferon induction plus ribavirin with or without amantadine in the treatment of interferon non-responsive chronic hepatitis C: a randomised trial
التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
العنوان:
Effects of alpha interferon induction plus ribavirin with or without amantadine in the treatment of interferon non-responsive chronic hepatitis C: a randomised trial
Background: Fifty per cent of chronic hepatitis C patients are non-responders to interferon. At present, there are no recommended therapeutic options for non-responders. Aims: The safety and long term effect of alpha interferon induction plus ribavirin with or without amantadine in the treatment of interferon non-responsive chronic hepatitis C was evaluated. Patients and methods: A total of 114 consecutive patients were randomly divided into three groups with a final 2:2:1 ratio: group A (44 patients) received interferon alfa 2b, 3 million units (MU), three times a week, and oral ribavirin (1000 mg/day); group B (46 patients) received interferon 3 MU daily for the first four weeks and subsequently 3 MU three times a week, and ribavirin as in regimen A; and group C (24 patients) received interferon and ribavirin as in regimen B, plus oral amantadine hydrochloride (200 mg/day). The duration of treatment was 12 months. Results: The end of treatment response for groups A and B was 25% and 29%, respectively, and for group C, 68% (p
