Peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin with or without amantadine [correction of amantidine] for the treatment of non-responders to standard interferon and ribavirin.

Background: A significant proportion of hepatitis C patients treated with unmodified interferon plus ribavirin fail to respond. The optimal therapy for these patients has not been established yet. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of peginterferon plus ribavirin with or without amantidine in such patients.

Peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 4.

Background: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype is an important predictive parameter for the success of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin therapy. To date, most published therapeutic trials have enrolled patients infected mainly with HCV genotypes 1, 2, and 3. Data regarding the responsiveness of genotype 4, the predominant type of HCV in the Middle East, are very limited.