RIBAVIRIN PLUS HUMAN-LEUKOCYTE INTERFERON-ALPHA FOR THE TREATMENT OF INTERFERON RESISTANT CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C - A CONTROLLED TRIAL

A controlled study was carried out on 24 patients with biopsy-proven c hronic hepatitis C, who had failed to respond to a previous treatment course with human leukocyte interferon-alpha (LE-IFNA). The enrolled p atients were randomly assigned to receive for 6 months either oral rib avirin. 800 mg daily, plus LE-IFNA, 3 MU thrice a week (Group A: 13 pa tients), or LE-IFNA alone (Group B: ii patients). A follow-up period o f 6 months was performed in all patients. At enrolment, the two groups showed similar biochemical and histological characteristics. Al the e nd of treatment, normalization of ALT values was found in ten group A patients, five of whom also had undetectable serum HCV-RNA. Only one p atient in group B showed such biochemical and virological response. At the end of follow-up. biochemical and virological relapse was registe red in all of the Group A patients, whereas the only responding patien t in group B still had normal ALT value and undetectable serum HCV-RNA . One group A patient dropped out during the second month of treatment due to development of mild anaemia. In IFN-resistant chronic hepatiti s C, the combination therapy of ribavirin and IFN alpha can induce a c omplete response during treatment. However, post-treatment relapses ar e common and long-term benefits seem uncertain. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scie nce Ireland Ltd.