Hepatitis C in adults and adolescents with hemophilia: a randomized, controlled trial of interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin.

Adolescents and adults with inherited disorders of coagulation have one of the highest prevalence rates of hepatitis C among known risk groups. Few data are available on the use of combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin in this population. Patients 13 years of age and older who were positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA by polymerase chain reaction and negative for human immunodeficiency virus were randomized to receive interferon alfa-2b (3 million units 3 times a week) plus ribavirin (1,000 mg/day) or interferon alfa-2b alone for 48 weeks with 24 weeks of posttreatment follow-up.