Search results for " alpha-2"
showing 10 items of 104 documents
Pegylated alpha-interferon-2a plus ribavirin compared with pegylated alpha-interferon-2b plus ribavirin for initial treatment of chronic hepatitis C …
2008
Background and aim We assessed whether the two regimens of pegylated alpha-interferon-2b (PEG-IFN-alpha2b) plus ribavirin and pegylated alpha-interferon-2a (PEG-IFN-alpha2a) plus ribavirin showed differences in terms of sustained virological response, withdrawal due to side-effects and dose adjustment requirements in the treatment of naive chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients. Methods A prospective non-randomized, open-label comparison was made of naive HCV-infected patients undergoing standard 24- or 48-week treatment with two PEG-IFN combined with weight-based dosing regimen of ribavirin (PEG-IFN-alpha2a/ribavirin, n = 91; PEG-IFN-alpha2b/ribavirin, n = 92). Results Sustained virologi…
Current practice of hepatitis C treatment in Southern Italy.
2010
Abstract Background Only a small proportion of subjects referring to hospitals for hepatitis C virus (HCV) positivity receives antiviral therapy. Aim To evaluate the rate of antiviral treatment and the causes for no treatment in HCV-RNA positive subjects seen in hospital settings. Patients and methods A prospective study enrolling over a 6-month period (February–July 2009) all consecutive anti-HCV positive subjects initially referred (naive patients) to 12 liver units in Southern Italy for HCV treatment. Results Out of 608 subjects evaluated, 74 (12.2%) had no detectable HCV-RNA in the serum and thus were excluded. Of the remaining 534 HCV-RNA positive subjects, 357 (66.9%) were not treated…
Impact of liver steatosis on the antiviral response in the hepatitis C virus-associated chronic hepatitis.
2006
: Background/Aim: Liver steatosis (LS) has been variably associated with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) but whether it affects sustained virological response to antiviral treatment and by what mechanisms is a question still under debate, at least for some genotypes. The aim of this work was to assess the frequency of LS, its relationship with host and viral factors and to what extent it can influence the response to antiviral combination therapy with pegylated interferon (INF)+ribavirin in a group of patients with CHC from a single center. Patients: One hundred and twelve patients with histologically proven CHC were treated with Peg INF-α 2a 180 μg a week subcutaneously for 48 weeks plus ribavir…
Ropeginterferon alfa-2b versus phlebotomy in low-risk patients with polycythaemia vera (Low-PV study): a multicentre, randomised phase 2 trial.
2021
Summary Background There is no evidence that phlebotomy alone is sufficient to steadily maintain haematocrit on target level in low-risk patients with polycythaemia vera. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of ropeginterferon alfa-2b on top of the standard phlebotomy regimen with phlebotomy alone. Methods In 2017, we launched the Low-PV study, a multicentre, open-label, two-arm, parallel-group, investigator-initiated, phase 2 randomised trial with a group-sequential adaptive design. The study involved 21 haematological centres across Italy. Participants were recruited in a consecutive order. Participants enrolled in the study were patients, aged 18–60 years, with a diagnosis…
Photochemotherapy Alone or Combined with Interferon Alpha-2a in the Treatment of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma
1990
Eighty-two patients with either mycosis fungoides (MF) or parapsoriasis en plaques were treated with psoralens ultraviolet A light (PUVA). Clinical and histologic parameters were followed for a period from 6 months to 10 years. Complete clinical clearing of lesions was observed in 51 patients (62%) and most of them were in limited-plaque MF group or parapsoriasis en plaque. The mean total dose of PUVA for complete clearing was less for early MF. Thirty-one patients (38%) relapsed and responded to additional PUVA. Patients in early stages of the disease remained clear for up to 68 months after the first course of PUVA. Post-treatment skin biopsies with early MF showed histologic clearing. A …
Clonidine induces nitric oxide- and prostaglandin-mediated vasodilation in healthy human skin
2005
Sustained sympathetic activation not only leads to vasoconstriction but also might induce paradox vasodilation. This study was performed to explore whether and how alpha(2)-receptor stimulation mediates this vasodilation. We investigated 11 healthy subjects in 33 dermal microdialysis (MD) sessions. After nerve trunk blockade, MD fibers were inserted and perfused with physiological saline until skin trauma-related vasodilation subsided. Thereafter, fibers were perfused with either clonidine solutions (10(-3), 5 x 10(-4), 10(-4) mol/l), N(G)-monomethyl-l-arginine (L-NMMA; nitric oxide synthase blocker), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA; cyclooxygenase blocker), or combinations of these. Laser-Dopple…
Improved Responses to Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2b and Ribavirin by Individualizing Treatment for 24–72 Weeks
2011
Guidelines recommend that patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection be treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for 24, 48, or 72 weeks, based on their virologic response to treatment. We investigated the effects of treating patients for individualized durations.We treated 398 treatment-naïve patients who had HCV genotype 1 infections with pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin for 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 60, or 72 weeks (mean of 39 weeks, termed individualized therapy); the duration of therapy was determined based on baseline viral load and the time point at which HCV RNA levels became undetectable (measured at weeks 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, and 30). Results were compared with…
Early monotherapy with pegylated interferon alpha-2b for acute hepatitis C infection: the HEP-NET acute-HCV-II study.
2006
Early treatment of acute hepatitis C with interferon alpha-2b for 24 weeks prevents chronic infection in almost all patients. Because pegylated interferons have replaced conventional interferon in the therapy of chronic hepatitis C, the aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy of an early treatment of acute hepatitis C with peginterferon alpha-2b. Between February 2001 and February 2004, 89 individuals with acute HCV infection were recruited at 53 different centers in Germany. Patients received 1.5 microg/kg peginterferon alpha-2b for 24 weeks; treatment was initiated after a median of 76 days after infection (range 14-150). End-of-treatment response and sustained virological response …
Predicting Early and Sustained Virological Responses in Prior Nonresponders to Pegylated Interferon alpha-2b Plus Ribavirin Retreated With Peginterfe…
2013
GOALS: To evaluate the predictive value of complete early virological response (cEVR) on sustained virological response (SVR) following retreatment with peginterferon alpha-2a (40 kDa) plus ribavirin in previous nonresponders to peginterferon alpha-2b (12 kDa). BACKGROUND: In the randomized multinational retreatment with Pegasys in patients not responding to PegIntron therapy study, a 72-week regimen of peginterferon alpha-2a (40 kDa) plus ribavirin improved SVR rates over a standard 48-week regimen in previous nonresponders to peginterferon alpha-2b (12 kDa). cEVR, defined as hepatitis C virus RNA <50 IU/mL at treatment week 12, was an important predictor of SVR. STUDY: We conducted an exp…
Systemic Treatment with Interferon-α2B: An Effective Method to Prevent Sterility after Bilateral Mumps Orchitis
1991
In men orchitis represents the most common complication of mumps infection and occurs in 5 to 37% of this population. Bilateral manifestation is observed in 16 to 65% of the patients. The most important danger is the risk of testicular atrophy which results in sterility. Four patients with bilateral mumps orchitis received systemic treatment with interferon-alpha 2B (3 x 10(6) IU per day) for 7 days. All acute symptoms of mumps orchitis disappeared within 2 to 4 days of hospitalization. During 6 to 15 months of followup no incidence of testicular atrophy was observed. In 3 of 4 patients pre-treatment examination revealed subfertility (oligoasthenospermia), while 2 to 4 months after interfer…