Peginterferon-alfa2a plus ribavirin for 48 versus 72 weeks in patients with detectable hepatitis C virus RNA at week 4 of treatment.

Background & Aims: Patients with chronic hepatitis C who do not respond rapidly to therapy have a low chance of developing a sustained virologic response (SVR) when treated for 48 weeks. This study investigated whether treatment for 72 weeks increases the rate of SVR in patients with detectable hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA levels at week 4 of treatment.

Methods: A total of 510 treatment-naive patients were treated with peginterferon-alfa2a (180 microg/wk) plus ribavirin (800 mg/day).

Long-term oral tacrolimus therapy in refractory to infliximab fistulizing Crohn's disease: a pilot study.

Aims: To evaluate efficacy and safety of oral tacrolimus in cases of fistulizing Crohn's disease (FCD), which is refractory to conventional therapy including infliximab.

Methods: Patients with fistulas, previously and unsuccessfully treated with all conventional therapy (i.e.