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.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis B with the sequential administration of interferon and lamivudine.

Background/aims: Interferon monotherapy has been shown to induce a sustained viral response in 30-40% of patients with HbeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B infection. Similarly, lamivudine monotherapy causes HBeAg seroconversion in less than 20% of patients treated for one year. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of the sequential administration of interferon alfa-2a plus lamivudine to patients with chronic hepatitis B in comparison to lamivudine monotherapy.

Interferon-alpha in combination with ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients with persistently normal aminotransferase levels.

Background And Aims: A substantial proportion of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection have persistently normal serum transaminase levels. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of interferon plus ribavirin combination therapy in this population.

Methods: In this prospective open trial 152 patients with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis C were enrolled, 32 of whom had persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels (group A).