干扰素α-2b联合利巴韦林治疗慢性丙型肝炎患者疗效观察

目的：观察普通干扰素联合利巴韦林治疗慢性丙型肝炎患者的临床疗效。方法87例慢性丙型肝炎患者被随机分成对照组44例和观察组43例,均应用重组人干扰素α-2b 联合利巴韦林治疗,分别治疗48周和72周,随访24周,观察疗效。结果在44例对照组患者中,HCV 1b型感染者28例（63.6%）,2a型感染者8例（18.2%）,在观察组43例患者中则分别为29例（67.4%）和6例（14.0%）;对照组获得快速病毒学应答率（RVR）、早期病毒学应答（EVR）、治疗结束时应答（ETR）和持续病毒学应答率（SVR）分别为40.9%、59.1%、68.2%和38.6%,而观察组则分别为39.5%、60.5%、88.4%（P＜0.05）和65.1%（P＜0.05）;根据血清HCV RNA水平是否≥1×106copies/m1,将两组患者分为高病毒载量组和低病毒载量组,结果两组低病毒载量组患者的ETR和SVR均显著高于高病毒载量组（P＜0.05）。结论延长干扰素联合利巴韦林治疗慢性丙型肝炎的疗程有助于提高SVR。     

聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a 联合利巴韦林治疗基因1b 型慢性丙型肝炎临床观察

目的：观察聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a 联合利巴韦林治疗基因1b 型慢性丙型肝炎（CHC）的疗效及不良反应。方法40例基因1b 型 CHC 患者应用聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a 联合利巴韦林治疗,疗程48周,随访24周,观察病毒学应答情况及药物不良反应。结果获得快速病毒学应答（RVR）、完全早期病毒学应答（cEVR）、治疗结束时病毒学应答（ETVR）和持续病毒学应答（SVR）比例分别为65．0％、82．5％、90．0％、82．5％,获得 RVR 者均获得 SVR;合并脂肪肝者获得 SVR 的比例低于无脂肪肝者（P ＜0．05）;治疗过程中聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a 减量者8例,利巴韦林减量者6例。结论聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a 联合利巴韦林治疗基因1b 型 CHC 疗效良好;合并脂肪肝患者疗效低于无脂肪肝患者;治疗中不良反应普遍,但均能耐受。     

基因3型慢性丙型肝炎患者经济化治疗的临床观察

目的研究丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)基因3型感染者对普通干扰素和利巴韦林联合治疗的疗效。方法对2012年5月-2015年6月在我院就诊的抗-HCV和HCV RNA双阳性的1677例HCV患者进行基因分型,将其中2012年6月至2013年12月的120例HCV 3型初治患者采用普通干扰素(皮下注射IFN-α1b 5 MU/d,连续15 d;此后1次/隔日)联合利巴韦林(RBV 15 mg/kg·d)抗病毒治疗48周的方案;20例HCV 3型初治患者采用PegIFN-α2b(80μg/周)联合利巴韦林(RBV 15 mg/kg·d)治疗24周作为对照组。将普通干扰素联合利巴韦林抗病毒治疗获得快速病毒学应答(RVR)的患者,按照病毒载量分两组:≤1×10~5 IU/L(低病毒载量),A1组;1×10~5 IU/L(高病毒载量),A2组;获得早期病毒学应答(EVR),B组;未获得早期病毒学应答,C组。治疗前后和随访中检测患者血浆HCV RNA水平作为疗效评价的指标。结果在1677份标本中,检测到5种基因型,其中HCV基因lb型有263例,HCV基因2a型195例,HCV基因3a型314例,HCV基因3b型697例,HCV基因6a型67例,不能确定型别141例;其中基因3型(3a和3b)占总数的60.3%。治疗组112例患者完成既定治疗方案,92例(76.7%)患者获得SVR;其中A1组37例患者,33例(89.1%)获得SVR;A2组34例患者,28例(82.3%)获得SVR;B组(EVR)41例,31例(75.6%)获得SVR;C组(未获得EVR)8例:3例患者将普通干扰素调整为PegIFN,5例患者终止治疗。对照组20例均完成既定治疗方案:18例获得SVR,SVR率为90%,A1、A2组与对照组差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论(1)昆明地区慢性丙型肝炎患者以基因3型为主。(2)普通干扰素联合利巴韦林治疗获得RVR的3型慢性丙型肝炎患者疗效好。     

解读2011年美国肝脏病学会关于基因1型慢性丙型肝炎治疗指南的更新

慢性丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）感染的标准抗病毒治疗方案是聚乙二醇化干扰素-α（Peg-IFN-α）2a或Peg-IFN-α2b联合利巴韦林（RBV）治疗。基因1型慢性丙型肝炎初治患者48周持续病毒学应答（sustained virologic response,SVR）为40％～54％,     

聚乙二醇化干扰素-α对不同基因型慢性丙型肝炎患者治疗效果比较*

目的 观察应用聚乙二醇化干扰素-α（peg-IFNα）治疗丙性肝炎病毒（HCV）基因I型和非HCV I型感染的慢性丙型肝炎（CHC）患者的疗效差异。方法 2013年10月~2016年10月在我院治疗的108例CHC患者,其中HCV I型感染者58例,非HCV I型感染者50例,均接受peg-IFNα-2a联合利巴韦林治疗48周,停药后随访24周。采用荧光定量RT-PCR法检测血清HCV RNA,采用一步法聚合酶链式反应结合TaqMan技术和HCV分型特异性引物进行HCV基因分型。结果 治疗前,两组基线年龄、性别比例、体质指数（BMI）、血清ALT和HCV RNA水平比较,无显著性差异（P>0.05）;非HCV I型感染者快速病毒学应答（RVR）、早期病毒学应答（EVR）、治疗结束时病毒学应答（ETVR）和持续病毒学应答率（SVR）分别为74.0%、82.0%、88.0%和86.0%,均显著高于HCV I型感染者（分别为51.7%、60.3%、63.8%和58.6%,P<0.05）;67例获得RVR患者SVR发生率为100.00%,显著高于41例未获得RVR患者的25.6%（P<0.05）,76例获得EVR患者SVR发生率为94.7%,也显著高于32例未获得EVR患者的15.6%（P<0.05）;在血清HCV RNA≤4×10⁵ IU/ml被认为系低病毒载量组,HCV I型与非HCV I型感染者各病毒学应答率无显著性相差（P>0.05）,而在血清HCV RNA>4×10⁵ IU/ml被认为系高病毒载量组,39例非HCV I型感染者RVR、EVR、ETVR和SVR分别为71.8%、79.5%、87.2%和84.6%,均显著高于44例HCV I型感染者（分别为50.0%、59.1%、63.6%和74.4%,P<0.05）;治疗24周、48周和随访24周时,非HCV I型感染者生化学应答率分别为70.0%、80.0%和84.0%,显著高于HCV I型感染者的50.0%、60.3%和69.0%（P<0.05）。结论 聚乙二醇化干扰素-α联合利巴韦林治疗非HCV I型CHC患者效果较好,获得RVR和EVR的患者将获得SVR,应坚定治疗,而对HCV I型感染者、血清病毒载量较高和未获得RVR和EVR的患者,则应今早作出更改治疗方案的选择。     

聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a与普通干扰素α-2b联合利巴韦林治疗慢性丙型肝炎患者疗效比较和影响疗效的预测因素分析

目的 比较聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a与普通干扰素α-2b联合利巴韦林治疗慢性丙型肝炎患者的疗效,并对影响抗病毒疗效的因素进行分析。方法 2010年5月~2014年8月我院收治的慢性丙型肝炎患者116例,随机将患者分为研究组和对照组,每组58例。给予对照组患者普通干扰素α-2b 联合利巴韦林治疗,给予研究组患者聚乙二醇α-2a干扰素联合利巴韦林治疗。采用实时荧光定量PCR法检测血清HCV RNA定量,对两组病毒学应答率以及性别、年龄、体质指数和病毒载量对治疗效果的影响进行比较分析。结果 在治疗12周、24周、48周以及停药后12周和24周,研究组患者血清HCV RNA转阴率分别为51.72%、60.34%、72.41%、68.97%和65.52%,显著高于对照组患者的31.03%、48.27%、55.17%、48.27%和41.38% （P<0.05）;研究组患者快速病毒学应答率、早期病毒学应答率、治疗结束病毒学应答率和持续病毒学应答率分别为75.86%、84.48%、86.20%和74.14%,显著高于对照组的51.72%、60.34%、63.79%和55.17%（P<0.05）;在治疗4周、12周、24周和48周,研究组患者血清HCV RNA水平分别为（4.72±1.30） IU/ml、（4.09±1.21） IU/ml、（3.79±1.18） IU/ml和（3.26±1.08） IU/ml,显著低于对照组患者的（5.27±1.52） IU/ml、（4.68±1.41） IU/ml、（4.15±1.37） IU/ml和（3.99±1.16） IU/ml（P<0.05）;两组患者在治疗过程中,均出现发热、失眠、肌肉酸痛、乏力和白细胞下降等不良反应,但差异均不具有统计学意义（P>0.05）;研究组获得SVR患者治疗前血清HCV RNA水平为（3.57±0.45） IU/ml,显著低于未获得SVR患者的（4.92±0.09） IU/ml（P<0.05）。讨论 聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a联合利巴韦林治疗慢性丙型肝炎患者有效且安全,治疗前患者病毒载量低将预示疗效好。     

干扰素联合利巴韦林治疗慢性丙型肝炎患者的疗效

目的 研究昆明地区HCV感染者的病毒基因型分布,观察干扰素和利巴韦林联合治疗慢性丙型肝炎的疗效。 方法 采集60例慢性丙型肝炎患者的血液样品,采用特异性探针杂交法进行HCV基因分型,根据基因分型结果将患者分为HCV 1b型感染的长效干扰素治疗组（皮下注射聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a 180μg,1次/周）和非1b型感染的普通干扰素治疗组（皮下注射普通干扰素α-1b50μg,隔日1次）,两组患者均口服利巴韦林,剂量为900 ～ 1200 mg/d。治疗前后和随访中检测患者血浆HCV RNA和ALT水平作为疗效评价的指标。用x2检验比较治疗结束后HCV 1b基因型与HCV非1b基因型感染患者肝功能异常率的差异。结果 60例患者的血液样本中,HCV 1b基因型感染患者13例(21.7％),HCV 2a基因型3例(5.0％),HCV 3a基因型10例(16.7％),HCV 3b基因型29例(48.3％),HCV 6a基因型5例(8.3％);60例患者均完成治疗48周,长效干扰素治疗组和普通干扰素治疗组获得持续病毒学应答率分别为46.1％、74.5％;获得早期病毒学应答的患者全部获得持续病毒学应答。长效干扰素治疗组和普通干扰素治疗组在治疗后肝功能仍异常的患者分别占15.4％、14.9％,两组比较,x2=0.01,P＞0.05,差异无统计学意义。结论 (1)昆明地区HCV感染基因型以3b和1b为主;(2)聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a联合利巴韦林治疗HCV 1b型感染患者的疗效不理想;(3)早期病毒学应答是获得持续病毒学应答的重要预测因素。     

对治疗无应答的慢性丙型肝炎处理研究进展

近10年来慢性丙型肝炎（CHC）的治疗取得了较大的进展，从最初的单用α干扰素治疗发展为α干扰素与利巴韦林联合治疗，到近几年来提倡采用聚乙二醇化（Peg）干扰素α-2a或2b加上利巴韦林治疗，使得持久病毒应答率（SVR）有了很大的提高。目前认为Peg干扰素α-2a或2b联合利巴韦林治疗是最有效的抗丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）的治疗方案，其次是普通α干扰素或复合干扰素与利巴韦林联合疗法，效果均优于单用α干扰素。     

聚乙二醇干扰素联合利巴韦林治疗获极快速病毒学应答的初治基因1型慢性丙型肝炎患者疗效观察

目的观察获得极快速病毒学应答的初治基因1型慢性丙型肝炎患者,在继续接受36 w聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a联合利巴韦林治疗后的疗效。方法将基线HCV RNA水平〉400000 IU/ml、接受聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a（180μg/w）联合利巴韦林（1000～1200 mg/d）治疗2 w后HCV RNA阴转的基因1型慢性丙型肝炎初治患者,随机分为两组,分别接受36 w和48 w治疗,在停药后随访24 w,观察疗效。结果本研究共纳入40例患者,两组各20例。治疗36 w患者在治疗结束时病毒学应答（ETVR）、持续病毒学应答（SVR）和复发率分别为100%（20例）、90%（18例）和10%（2例）,治疗48 w患者ETVR、SVR和复发分别为95%（19例）、90%（18例）和5.3%（1例）,两组比较无统计学差异（P〉0.05）;在40例患者,基线HCV RNA水平与SVR呈负相关（OR=0.422,95%CI为0.05～0.29,P=0.007）;在治疗36 w患者,基线HCV RNA〈6×10^7IU/ml患者SVR显著高于HCV RNA≥6×10^7IU/ml患者（P=0.005）,但在治疗48 w患者,未发现这种差异（P=0.063）。结论对于基线HCV RNA水平〉400000 IU/ml的基因1型慢性丙型肝炎初治患者,接受聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a联合利巴韦林治疗,如在2 w时获得病毒学应答,治疗36 w疗程与48 w疗程的SVR相当。     

慢性丙型肝炎干扰素治疗后复发患者干扰素联合利巴韦林再治疗

目的 探讨干扰素（IFN）治疗后复发的慢性丙型肝炎（CHC）患者对IFN联合利巴韦林再治疗的应答情况及影响因素。方法 100例IFN治疗后复发的CHC患者中，50例使用聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a（PEG—IFNα-2a），50例使用重组人干扰素α-1b（CIFNα—1b），均联合利巴韦林再治疗，联合治疗48周，停药随访24周，分析HCVRNA载量、病毒基因型、药物种类对联合治疗疗效的影响。结果 100例复发患者联合再治疗后，36．00％取得持续病毒学应答（SVR），其中PEG-IFNα-2a组48．00％取得SVR，显著高于CIFNα—1b组（24．00％，P〈0．05）。56例低病毒载量（HCV-RNA〈1×10^5拷贝／mL）患者中，PEG—IFNα-2a组28例，其中57．14％取得SVR，显著高于CIFNα—1b组（25．00％，P〈0．05）。HCV非基因1（2a或2b）型组29例，其中55．17％取得SVR，显著高于基因1型组（28．20％，P〈0．05）；在CIFNα—1b治疗组，病毒非基因1型17例患者，其中47．06％取得SVR，明显高于基因1型患者（12，12％，P〈0．01）；在基因1型组，PEG—IFNα-2a组38例，其中42．11％取得SVR，显著高于CIFNα—1b组（12．12％，P〈0.01）。结论 IFN治疗后复发的CHC患者IFN联合利巴韦林再治疗存在部分患者无应答；对于HCV病毒载量低、基因1型的复发患者，聚乙二醇干扰素联合利巴韦林再治疗疗效明显优于普通干扰素的联合治疗。     

不同聚乙二醇化干扰素治疗丙型肝炎病毒感染临床观察

目的评价聚乙二醇化干扰素α-2a或α-2b(PEG-IFNα-2a/α-2b)联合利巴韦林治疗慢性丙型肝炎病毒感染的疗效与副作用,以优化慢性丙型肝炎治疗策略、提高临床治愈率。方法 60例慢性丙型肝炎患者随机分为A组和B组各30例,分别给予PEG-IFNα-2a加利巴韦林(A组)和PEG-IFNα-2b加利巴韦林(B组)治疗48周,检测基线及治疗4周、l2周、48周及治疗结束后24周时的血清HCV-RNA水平,比较两组快速病毒学应答(RVR)率、早期病毒学应答(EVR)率、治疗终点病毒学应答(ETVR)率、持续病毒学应答(SVR)以及复发率与不良反应。结果 A组和B组RVR、EVR、ETVR、SVR、复发率分别为46.7%、63.3%、86.7%、80.0%、6.7%和40.0%、56.7%、80.0%、76.7%、3.3%,组间比较,差异均无统计学意义(P0.05),两组的安全性情况相似,未见严重的不良事件,总体耐受性好。结论两种现有的聚乙二醇化干扰素α-2a或α-2b联合利巴韦林治疗丙型肝炎病毒感染的持续病毒学应答率和耐受性没有显著差异。     

First-line therapy with daily versus thrice-weekly interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C

OBJECTIVES: Combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin is the most effective treatment for chronic hepatitis C today. Before pegylated interferons became available, higher and more frequent doses of interferon were expected to be more effective than the standard regimen of three million units thrice weekly. In fact, daily dosing is still proposed for non-pegylated interferon. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of daily versus thrice-weekly interferon alfa-2b in combination with ribavirin as first-line treatment of chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: A total of 116 treatment-naive patients were randomised to receive either interferon alfa-2b three million units daily or thrice-weekly in combination with ribavirin for 24 weeks. Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 who were HCV-RNA negative at 24 weeks continued treatment with thrice-weekly interferon plus ribavirin for another 24 weeks. Sustained virological response was defined as an undetectable HCV-RNA level 24 weeks after treatment was completed (end of follow-up). RESULTS: In an intention-to-treat analysis, HCV-RNA was undetectable at the end of treatment in 71% and 74% of patients treated with daily and thrice-weekly interferon, respectively. At the end of follow-up, HCV-RNA was undetectable in 47% and 57% of patients treated with daily and thrice-weekly interferon, respectively. Sustained virological response rates were almost twice as high in patients with genotypes 2 and 3 as in patients with genotype 1 but were not different between treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study could not show any difference between daily and thrice-weekly standard interferon plus ribavirin in achieving end-of-treatment and sustained virological responses in chronic hepatitis C.     

Pegylated interferon and ribavirin in re-treatment of responder-relapser HCV patients

BACKGROUND: The re-treatment of patients who relapse after a course of standard interferon and ribavirin with pegylated interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin is an open issue. AIMS: To evaluate efficacy and safety of treatment with pegylated interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin and the role of early HCV-RNA assessment as a predictor of sustained response. PATIENTS: Between May 2001 and December 2002, 242 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled in an open, regional, multicentre study. Seventy-eight of them were responder-relapsers to a previous course of combination therapy. METHODS: Patients were treated with pegylated interferon alfa-2b (1 microg/kg/week) plus ribavirin (800-1200 mg daily). Qualitative HCV-RNA was performed at week 2. Genotypes 1-4 were treated for 48 weeks, while genotypes 2 and 3 were treated for 24 weeks. RESULTS: We obtained an overall sustained virological response rate of 41.0% (78.6% for patients with genotypes 2-3). CONCLUSION: This treatment schedule prove to be safe and effective in relapsers with genotype non-1 while genotype 1-4 patients had a low rate of sustained virological response. Qualitative virological assessment after 2 weeks may identify patients who are more likely to reach sustained virological response, but it is not a valid tool for a stopping rule approach.     

Y型聚乙二醇干扰素α-2b注射液治疗HCV基因2/3型慢性丙型肝炎患者疗效和安全性的多中心随机对照试验研究*

目的 以标准剂量的聚乙二醇干扰素（PegIFN）α-2a联合利巴韦林作为阳性对照,评价新型试验药物Y型PegIFNα-2b注射液联合利巴韦林治疗2型/3型慢性丙型肝炎（CHC）患者的疗效和安全性。方法 采用多中心、随机开放、阳性药对照的Ⅲ期临床试验,筛选符合要求的2型/3型CHC患者,按照2:1的比例随机分配到Y型PegIFNα-2b组和PegIFNα-2a组,同时口服利巴韦林,疗程24 w,停药随访24 w。采用Abbott RealTime HCV Genotype II检测HCV基因型,采用Cobas TaqMan实时定量PCR法检测血清HCV RNA水平。详细记录不良事件。主要疗效指标为持续病毒学应答（SVR）,并进行非劣效检验。结果 本试验实际入组2型/3型CHC患者255例,实际治疗241例。全分析集（FAS）数据显示,158例试验组和83例对照组患者SVR分别为85.4%（95% CI 79.94%~90.94%）和79.5%（95% CI 70.84%~88.20%,P=0.2402）;对符合方案分析集（PPS）人群分析显示,试验组和对照组患者SVR分别为87.9%（95% CI 82.45%~93.27%）和85.9%（95% CI 77.82%~94.01%,P=0.7060）,率差的95%可置信区间均符合非劣效标准;对PPS人群分析显示,85.8%受试者获得了早期病毒学应答（RVR）,RVR的阳性预测值为90.1%;试验组和对照组不良事件发生率相似,分别为95.6%和95.2%,严重不良事件发生率分别为3.8%和3.6%。结论 应用PegIFNα联合利巴韦林治疗2型/3型CHC患者,新型试验药物Y型PegIFNα-2b具有与对照药物PegIFNα-2a相似的疗效和安全性。     

Interferon alfa-2b in combination with ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in children: efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is usually asymptomatic in children, but significant liver disease may occur. We evaluated the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin in children with chronic HCV. We determined the optimal ribavirin dose in an initial cohort of a phase 1 study and then subsequently used it, in combination with interferon alfa-2b, in a second cohort of this study and a phase 3 trial. The primary efficacy endpoint in all studies was sustained virological response, defined by undetectable serum HCV RNA 24 weeks after completion of therapy. All efficacy and safety analyses were performed on the intent-to-treat population. Children receiving interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin 15 mg/kg/d in the phase 1 study had the maximum reduction in serum HCV RNA at treatment weeks 4 and 12 with an acceptable safety profile. This ribavirin dose was selected as optimal and used in all subsequent studies. In all, 46% (54/118) of optimally treated children achieved sustained virological response. Sustained virological response was significantly higher in children with HCV genotype 2/3 (84%) than in those with HCV genotype 1 (36%). Adverse events led to dose modification in 37 (31%) and discontinuation in 8 (7%). Multiple-dose interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin peak and trough concentrations and area-under-the-curve were similar between children and adults. In conclusion, interferon alfa-2b in combination with ribavirin is effective and safe in children with chronic hepatitis C virus.     

High predictive value of early viral kinetics in retreatment with peginterferon and ribavirin of chronic hepatitis C patients non-responders to standard combination therapy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy of peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin in unselected consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C, treated outside of trials, who were relapsers or non-responders to interferon and ribavirin combination. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-four patients were evaluated. There were 101 non-responders and 53 relapsers to standard combination therapy. Patients were retreated with peginterferon alfa-2b 1.5 microg/kg/wk plus ribavirin 1000-1200 mg/day during 48 weeks. RESULTS: Forty-four patients (28.6%) achieved sustained virological response (SVR). Rapid (week 4) and early (week 12) virological response had high negative predictive values of SVR (94% and 97%, respectively); however positive predictive values were relatively low (52% and 49%, respectively). Relapsers had higher SVR rates (58.5%) than non-responders (13%) p<0.0001. In non-responders, SVR raised to 50% in patients with genotype non-1 and mild or moderate fibrosis. In multivariate analysis, predictors of SVR were: relapse after interferon plus ribavirin combination, mild or moderate fibrosis, genotype non-1 and baseline viral load <2 million copies/ml. CONCLUSIONS: Relapsers to interferon plus ribavirin therapy, and non-responders with genotype non-1 and mild or moderate fibrosis, achieved a relatively high SVR rate following retreatment with peginterferon plus ribavirin. Early viral kinetics had a high negative predictive value of SVR.     

High-dose interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin in patients previously treated with interferon: results of a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Kinetic studies have demonstrated a more rapid reduction in hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels among patients taking high daily doses of interferon compared with those taking standard-dose interferon. GOALS: To compare the efficacy and safety of high-dose interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin with standard-dose interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C patients previously treated with interferon. STUDY: One hundred seven patients (30 interferon relapsers and 77 interferon nonresponders) were randomized to take either high-dose interferon alfa-2b in combination with ribavirin (group A) (consisting of 5 MU/d for 4 weeks, 5 MU three times weekly for 8 weeks, and then 3 MU three times weekly for 36 weeks) or standard-dose interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin (group B) for 48 weeks. Serum alanine transaminase (ALT), HCV RNA levels, and safety data were prospectively collected and compared during treatment and at week 24 of follow-up. RESULTS: The mean serum ALT and HCV RNA levels, as well as the proportion of patients with genotype 1 and cirrhosis and who were African American, were similar in the two treatment groups at study entry. The rates of suppression of HCV RNA to undetectable levels at weeks 4, 12, and 48 were similar. In addition, the sustained virologic response rates at week 24 of follow-up were similar in groups A and B (29% vs. 39%, respectively, p = 0.277). Clinical variables that correlated with a sustained virologic response included a history of relapse to previous interferon therapy and non-1 HCV genotype ( p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Short-term, high-dose interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin failed to demonstrate a tangible benefit compared with standard-dose interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin. However, our study results and others suggest that standard-dose interferon and ribavirin for 48 weeks should be considered for selected patients who did not respond to previous interferon therapy.