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Triple therapy of initial high‐dose interferon with ribavirin and amantadine for patients with chronic hepatitis C
Author(s) -
Uyama Hirokazu,
Nakamura Hideji,
Hayashi Eijiro,
Ogawa Hiroyuki,
Enomoto Hirayuki,
Yoshida Kenya,
Okuda Yorihide,
Yamamoto Mitsunari,
Hada Toshikazu,
Hayashi Norio
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2007.00044.x
Subject(s) - amantadine , ribavirin , medicine , gastroenterology , interferon , viral load , chronic hepatitis , combination therapy , hepatitis c , hepatitis c virus , virology , virus
Aims: We previously reported the potential effect of combination therapy of an initial high‐dose interferon (IFN) and amantadine on the eradication of HCV‐RNA in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The additive effects of amantadine on interferon and ribavirin combination therapy remain controversial. In this study we investigated the efficacy of initial high‐dose IFN with ribavirin and amantadine on the virological response in patients with chronic hepatitis C with a high viral load of genotype 1b. Methods: Twenty‐two patients with high viral loads of genotype 1b hepatitis C virus were enrolled in this pilot study. Patients were administered IFN‐beta for four weeks and then IFN‐alpha2b for 22 weeks with daily oral administration of ribavirin and amantadine. Results: A sustained virological response (SVR) was shown in 31.8% (seven of 22 patients). With the naïve patients, the SVR rate was 21.4% (three of 14 patients). In patients who could not eradicate HCV‐RNA by previous IFN monotherapy, the SVR rate was 50% (four of eight patients). Conclusion: Triple therapy with an initial high dose of IFN with ribavirin and amantadine may be effective, especially for chronic hepatitis C IFN‐retreatment patients with a high viral load of genotype 1b.