THERAPY OF HEPATITIS-C

Interferon is the only drug which has confirmed its efficacy for the t herapy of chronic hepatitis C, 50% of treated patients will normalize ALT with a 6 months course at 3 MU thrice weekly but 50% of them will relapse after cessation of treatment, This biochemical response is ass ociated with reduction or clearance of HCV ARNA from serum and with si gnificant improvement of histologic lesion, Increasing the doses at 6 MU and/or duration of interferon therapy increase the proportion of lo ng term sustained responders. Combination therapy with ribavirin a nuc leoside analogs does also seem to do so.