Search results for "Virological response"

Early virologic response with pegylated interferons

2004

Abstract Recently, 12-week evaluation of viral response has been recommended as a means of reducing antiviral treatment morbidity and costs. The development of early stopping rules relies on an important assumption: rules must minimise discontinuation of treatment in patients who might ultimately respond after completion of the full course of therapy. Minimising loss of potential responders is the most important clinical goal in defining an early stopping rule because it provides the most sustained virological responders. This definition of the rule relies on maximising the negative predictive value. Conversely, rules that select patients based on optimising the positive predictive value pr…