Search results for "interferon alfa"

Simeprevir with pegylated interferon alfa 2a plus ribavirin in treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection (QUEST-1)…

2014

Although the addition of the HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitors boceprevir and telaprevir to pegylated interferon (peginterferon) alfa plus ribavirin has improved sustained virological response (SVR) in treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1, the regimens have a high pill burden and are associated with increased rates and severity of adverse events, such as anaemia and rash. The efficacy and safety of the combination of simeprevir, a one pill, once-daily, oral HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor, plus peginterferon alfa 2a plus ribavirin were assessed in treatment-naive patients with HCV genotype 1 infection.In QUEST-1, a phase 3, randomise…

Extrahepatic Morbidity and Mortality of Chronic Hepatitis C

2015

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with several extra-hepatic manifestations. Patients with HCV may develop mixed cryoglobulinemia and its sequelae, ranging from cutaneous and visceral vasculitis to glomerulonephritis and B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. HCV-infected patients have increased rates of insulin resistance, diabetes and atherosclerosis, which may lead to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Neurologic manifestations of HCV infection include fatigue and cognitive impairment. The mechanisms causing the extra-hepatic effects of HCV infection are likely multifactorial and may include endocrine effects, HCV replication in extra-hepatic cells, or a heig…

A randomized controlled trial of high-dose maintenance interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis C

1997

In chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, the rate of sustained response to interferon is low. We evaluated, in patients responding to a 26-week course of interferon, the effect of high-dose maintenance therapy in preventing relapse. Three hundred and ten patients with chronic HCV infection (38.3% with cirrhosis, 80.6% with HCV type 1) received interferon alfa-2b for 26 weeks (10 MU tiw for 8 weeks, then 5 MU tiw for 18 weeks). One hundred and twenty-four subjects (40%) normalized aminotransferases, and were allocated randomly either to continue on 5 MU tiw for a further 26 weeks (prolonged therapy group: 60 patients) or to stop interferon (brief therapy group: 64 patients). Fifty-two w…

FibroTest is an independent predictor of virologic response in chronic hepatitis C patients retreated with pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin…

2011

Background & Aims EPIC-3 is a prospective, international study that has demonstrated the efficacy of PEG-IFN alfa-2b plus weight-based ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C and significant fibrosis who previously failed any interferon–alfa/ribavirin therapy. The aim of the present study was to assess FibroTest (FT), a validated non-invasive marker of fibrosis in treatment-naive patients, as a possible alternative to biopsy as the baseline predictor of subsequent early virologic (EVR) and sustained virologic response (SVR) in previously treated patients. Methods Of 2312 patients enrolled, 1459 had an available baseline FT, biopsy, and complete data. Uni- (UV) and multi-variable (MV)…

High-dose prolonged combination therapy in non-responders to interferon monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C

2001

Background: Therapy of chronic hepatitis C non- responders to interferon monotherapy with standard doses of interferon plus ribavirin is usually ineffective. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of high-dose prolonged combination retreatment in non- responder patients. Methods: Patients were retreated for 6 months with 6 MU αIFN on alternate days and 1000 or 1200 mg/day ribavirin. HCV-RNA negative patients continued therapy for an additional 6 months. Results: Forty patients (29 males, mean age 49.7 years, 34 genotype 1b, 11 with F3 fibrosis) were treated. At 6 months, 20 (50%) patients were HCV-RNA negative but six of them discontinued therapy because of adverse events. A sustain…

Interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C patients who have not responded to interferon monotherapy

2000

Background: The role of combination therapy is poorly defined in chronic hepatitis C patients who are non-responders to interferon. Aim: To assess the efficacy, safety and tolerance of interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C patients who do not respond to interferon monotherapy. Methods: A total of 127 non-responder patients with chronic hepatitis C received 3 mU t.i.w. of interferon alfa-2b plus 1000–1200 mg ribavirin daily for 48 weeks. Effects of therapy were evaluated by serum aminotransferases and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels. Results: Twenty-nine (23%) patients had an end-of-treatment response. Six months after treatment, 20 (16%) patients were sustained respond…

Cost Effectiveness of Peginterferon ??-2a Plus Ribavirin versus Interferon ??-2b Plus Ribavirin as Initial Therapy for Treatment-Naive Chronic Hepati…

2004

Introduction: In adults with previously untreated chronic hepatitis C (CHC), the combination of peginterferon α-2a plus ribavirin produces a higher rate of sustained virological response (SVR) than interferon α-2b plus ribavirin, but it is still unproven whether this increase is cost effective. The objective of this study was to determine if the gain in SVR with peginterferon α-2a plus ribavirin is worth the incremental cost. Methods: We constructed a Markov model of disease progression in which cohorts of patients received peginterferon α-2a plus ribavirin or interferon α-2b plus ribavirin for 48 weeks (hepatitis C virus [HCV] genotype 1 and non-1 patients with fibrosis) or 24 weeks (genot…

Effectiveness of interferon alfa on incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and decompensation in cirrhosis type C

1997

Background/Aims: The role of interferon alfa treatment in improving morbidity endpoints in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection is currently under debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of interferon in preventing hepatocellular carcinoma and decompensation in cirrhosis type C. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out on 329 consecutive Caucasian patients with cirrhosis followed for a mean period of 5 years at seven tertiary care university hospitals. Inclusion criteria were biopsy-proven cirrhosis, anti-HCV positivity, abnormal serum aminotransferase levels and absence of complications of cirrhosis. Results: The yearly incidence of hepatocellula…

PIN31: THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF PEGINTERFERON ALFA-2A (40KD) (PEGASYS) PLUS RIBAVIRIN (COPEGUS) VS. INTERFERON ALFA-2B PLUS RIBAVIRIN FOR CHRONIC HE…

2003

Cost effectiveness of peginterferon α-2b plus ribavirin versus interferon α-2b plus ribavirin for initial treatment of chronic hepatitis C

2003

Background: Peginterferon α-2b plus ribavirin therapy in previously untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C yields the highest sustained virological response rates of any treatment strategy but is expensive. Aims: To estimate the cost effectiveness of treatment with peginterferon α-2b plus ribavirin compared with interferon α-2b plus ribavirin for initial treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C. Methods: Individual patient level data from a randomised clinical trial with peginterferon plus ribavirin were applied to a previously published and validated Markov model to project lifelong clinical outcomes. Quality of life and economic estimates were based on German patient data. We u…