Efficacy of Combination Therapy with Interferon Alpha and Ribavirin on Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection
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Accession number;03A0333122
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| Title;Efficacy of Combination Therapy with Interferon Alpha and Ribavirin on Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection |
| Author;
TSUBOTA AKIHITO
(Fed. of Natl. Public Serv. and Affil. Personnel Mutual Aid Assoc., Toranomon Hosp.)
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Journal Title;Prog Med
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Journal Code:F0664B
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ISSN:0287-3648
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VOL.23;NO.4;PAGE.1115-1122(2003)
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| Figure&Table&Reference;FIG.4, TBL.5, REF.18 |
| Pub. Country;Japan |
| Language;Japanese |
| Abstract;Combination therapy with interferon (IFN) alpha 2b plus ribavirin is the first-line therapy worldwide for naieve patients with chronic hepatitis C and even for relapsers and non-responders to previous IFN monotherapy. The standard regimen is subcutaneous three-times-weekly (tiw) administration of IFN alpha-2b at a dose of 3 or 5 million units (MU) for 24 or 48 weeks, together with oral daily administration of ribavirin at a dose of 1,000-1,200 mg. The combination therapy has significantly improved the sustained viral clearance rate, compared to the classical regimen of IFN monotherapy. In Japan, specifically, patients infected with genotype 1b and high viral load occupy about half of the whole. Daily, high-dose IFN alpha-2b induction therapy followed by tiw maintenance administration plus ribavirin has shown to be significantly effective for the "IFN-resistant" patient subgroup. IFN dosage has been administered much more in Japan than in Western, and is one of factors significantly influencing the treatment outcome. Thus, we have much expectations of development of efficient and rational IFN-based treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients. However, we should take careful attention to safety and adverse effects in the combination therapy, and should carefully consider who could be more suitable candidates for the combination therapy. (author abst.) |
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