In:
Intervirology, S. Karger AG, Vol. 48, No. 2-3 ( 2005), p. 138-144
Abstract:
〈 i 〉 Objective: 〈 /i 〉 The purpose of this clinical retrospective cohort study was to determine the most suitable ribavirin concentration on combination therapy of interferon (IFN)-ribavirin. 〈 i 〉 Methods: 〈 /i 〉 Entry criteria were serum HCV-RNA level ≧100 KIU/ml, HCV-genotype 1b, chronic hepatitis, and initial combination treatment of IFN-α-2b (6 million units daily for 2 weeks and then 3 times weekly for 6 weeks) and ribavirin (600–800 mg/day) for 8 weeks without stopping or decreasing the dosage of IFN and/or ribavirin. Sixty-eight consecutive patients who satisfied the above criteria were given maintenance therapy for another 16 weeks. 〈 i 〉 Results: 〈 /i 〉 A sustained virological response (SVR) rate of 25.0% (17/68) was seen in all subjects. The SVR rate was 44.0% (11/25) in the high ribavirin group with a serum ribavirin concentration of ≧3,000 ng/ml at 8 weeks after initiation of combination therapy. SVR was significantly dependent at a serum ribavirin level of ≧3,000 ng/ml (p = 0.005). The incidence of discontinuations and dose modifications for combination therapy in patients having a serum ribavirin concentration of ≧3,500 ng/ml 8 weeks after initiation of therapy was 57.1% (4/7). This value was statistically higher than that in patents with 〈 3,500 ng/ml (p = 0.033). 〈 i 〉 Conclusion: 〈 /i 〉 Our results showed that the most suitable serum ribavirin concentrations are from 3,000 to 3,500 ng/ml 8 weeks after initiation of combination therapy.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0300-5526
,
1423-0100
Language:
English
Publisher:
S. Karger AG
Publication Date:
2005
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1482863-7
SSG:
12
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