Chronic hepatitis C responds poorly to combination therapy in chronic hepatis B carriers.
Neth J Med
; 66(5): 191-5, 2008 May.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18490796
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The effect of conventional interferon-based therapy of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) dual infection is controversial. Yet, no studies have been carried out into pegylated interferon treatment for chronic HBV/HCV coinfection. We aimed to evaluate the response rate and side effects of conventional or pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin on chronic HBV/HCV coinfection therapy.METHODS:
The study included 36 chronic hepatitis patients (M/F 28/8, mean age 47+/-12 years) who were positive for HBsAg and anti-HCV. They were tested for the presence of HBV-DNA by hybridisation assay, and the samples giving negative results were retested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All patients were tested for HCV-RNA using PCR, and the HCV genotype was determined.RESULTS:
Nineteen patients were given standard interferon either alone or in combination with ribavirin, whereas 17 were given pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination therapy. None of the patients had HBV-DNA positivity; however, all had HCV-RNA detectable by PCR. All the patients had HCV genotype 1b. The mean alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were 118+/-65 U/l and 90+/-95 U/l respectively. Five patients in each group discontinued the treatment due to side effects. Only two patients (one from each group) reached sustained virological response.CONCLUSION:
Neither pegylated nor conventional interferon based regimes were effective for HBV/HCV coinfection, in which the dominant virus was HCV. Pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy was not superior to conventional interferon based regimes in the treatment of HBV/HCV coinfection.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Antivirais
/
Polietilenoglicóis
/
Ribavirina
/
Interferon-alfa
/
Hepatite B Crônica
/
Hepatite C Crônica
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Neth J Med
Ano de publicação:
2008
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Turquia