Yonsei Med J.  2006 Dec;47(6):793-798. 10.3349/ymj.2006.47.6.793.

Efficacy and Long-Term Follow Up of Combination Therapy with Interferon Alpha and Ribavirin for Chronic Hepatitis C in Korea

• Kim JH
• Han KH
• Lee KS
• Park YN
• Ahn SH
• Chon CY
• Moon YM

• KMID: 1777167
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2006.47.6.793

Abstract

Combination therapy with interferon alpha (IFN- alpha) and ribavirin for 24 or 48 weeks according to HCV genotype has improved the overall sustained virological response (SVR) rates to approximately 40%. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term efficacy of combination therapy with IFN-alpha and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C in Koreans. One hundred thirty-eight patients with chronic hepatitis C who received this combination therapy between 1995 and 2003 were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were treated with IFN-alpha 3-6 million units three times weekly in combination with 900-1200 mg/day of ribavirin for 24 weeks. The overall SVR rate was 41.3%. Patients were followed up for a median of 41 months (range, 12-105 months) after completion of therapy. In all of the SVR patients (57 patients), SVR was conserved during the follow-up period. None of the patients progressed to decompensated liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, 5 of the 81 non-SVR patients (6.2%) progressed to decompensated liver disease or HCC. In conclusion, combination therapy with IFN-alpha and ribavirin shows good long-term efficacy in patients with chronic hepatitis C in Korea, one of the highest endemic areas of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Keyword

Chronic hepatitis C; interferons; ribavirin; long- term effects

MeSH Terms

Ribavirin/adverse effects/*therapeutic use
Retrospective Studies
Middle Aged
Male
Korea
Interferon-alpha/adverse effects/*therapeutic use
Humans
Hepatitis C, Chronic/*drug therapy/immunology/virology
Follow-Up Studies
Female
Drug Therapy, Combination
Antiviral Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use
Adult

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