Antiviral response of HCV genotype 1 to consensus interferon and ribavirin versus pegylated interferon and ribavirin.
Author(s): Sjogren MH, Sjogren R Jr, Lyons MF, Ryan M, Santoro J, Smith C, Reddy KR, Bonkovsky H, Huntley B, Faris-Young S
Affiliation(s): Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307, USA. maria.sjogren@na.amedd.army.mil
Publication date & source: 2007-06, Dig Dis Sci., 52(6):1540-7. Epub 2007 Apr 4.
Publication type: Comparative Study; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Achieving an antiviral response at a reasonable cost is a challenge in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C. A previous study indicated that consensus interferon with ribavirin had promising activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1. The objective of this study was to determine the virologic response with consensus interferon or pegylated interferon alpha-2b plus weight-ribavirin in patients chronically infected with HCV genotype 1. Intention-to-treat analysis showed response in 37% and 41% of subjects treated with consensus interferon/ribavirin or pegylated interferon/ribavirin, respectively, with response rates of 42% and 44% observed in analysis of the per-protocol population, not a significant difference. Tolerability of the two treatment regimens was similar. In conclusion, both treatment regimens were safe and gave a similar antiviral response. It is possible that if consensus interferon is administered daily rather than three times weekly, eradication of HCV could be achieved in a larger proportion of patients infected with HCV genotype 1.
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