Combined Treatment with Interferon Alpha and Ribavirin for Chronic Hepatitis C in Patients with Previous Non-response or Relapse to Interferon Alone

Lee, Chun Kyun; Han, Kwang Hyub; Jeong, Jeong Il; Choi, Won; Choe, Byung Hyun; Kim, Vu Il; Lee, Kwan Sik; Chon, Chae Yoon; Moon, Young Myoung; Kim, Young Ah; Kim, Hyun Suk

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Interferon-alpha has been effective in 10-20% of treated patients with chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) on a long term basis. We conducted this study to evaluate the biochemical and virological outcomes of combined treatment with interferon alpha and ribavirin for the patients who had CH-C but showed non-response or relapse to interferon alpha alone.
METHODS
Twenty five patients with CH-C who had not responded or relapsed to interferon alpha alone treatment were enrolled. Eighteen patients were given by the combined treatment of interferon alpha and ribavirin and 7 patients were not given any specific treatment as control. Interferon alpha-2a was given subcutaneously, at a dose of 4.5 MU thrice weekly. Ribavirin was also given orally, at a dose of 900 mg/day for 24 weeks. We quantified serum HCV-RNA levels at the end of treatment.
RESULTS
The normalization rate of serum ALT at the end of treatment was 47.1% (8/17) in treated group and 14.3% (1/7) in control group and negative conversion of HCV-RNA was noted in all patients. In the treated group, 75% (6/8) of responders at the end of treatment sustained serum ALT level normally during 24 weeks follow-up, but none has responded persistently in the control group. Conclusions The combined treatment with interferon alpha and ribavirin is effective and safe for treating chronic hepatitis C in patients who showed non-response or relapse to interferon alone.