The impact of an educational program on HCV patient outcomes using boceprevir in community practices (OPTIMAL trial).

Objectives: Although effective, direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapies for genotype 1 (GT 1) hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been associated with compliance challenges. Additionally, treatment at predominantly community-based centers has been associated with low retention of patients on treatment and higher dropout rates. The OPTIMAL Phase IV interventional trial (ClinicalTrials.

Methotrexate in Crohn's disease: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background/aims: Immunosuppression with methotrexate may be useful in the treatment of Crohn's disease. We tested the efficacy of methotrexate in refractory Crohn's disease in a randomized, controlled trial.

Methodology: Randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial of methotrexate in 33 patients with steroid-dependent Crohn's disease, 33% of whom had previously failed therapy with 6-mercaptopurine.

Response to higher doses of interferon alfa-2b in patients with chronic hepatitis C: a randomized multicenter trial. Hepatitis Interventional Therapy Group.

To evaluate response rates to 3, 5, or 10 million units (MU) of interferon alfa-2b, given thrice weekly, and to determine whether higher doses of interferon increase the likelihood or durability of the response, a multicenter, randomized trial was performed at nine academic medical centers in the United States. Two hundred forty eight patients with chronic hepatitis C were randomized to receive 3, 5, or 10 MU of interferon alfa-2b thrice weekly for 12 weeks. Based on the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) response at treatment-week 12, the patients were rerandomized to additional therapy at the same or at increased doses for an additional 12 to 36 weeks; in the case of no response to the highest dose, the patients were discontinued from the study.

Hepatitis vaccines.

The past two decades have seen a series of breakthroughs in the understanding, prevention, and treatment of viral hepatitis. Developed countries have an increasing number of adults who are susceptible to hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection. The licensing of an effective hepatitis A vaccine presents new opportunities for prevention in persons at risk for HAV infection.