Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
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J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. · May 2005
Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialCombination therapy with interferon-alpha and ribavirin in patients with dual hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection.
Patients with dual hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have responded poorly to interferon (IFN) monotherapy. The purpose of the present paper was to assess the effect of combined IFN-alpha and ribavirin therapy in patients infected with both hepatitis B and C. ⋯ Combination therapy with IFN-alpha and ribavirin was effective in achieving sustained HCV clearance in patients with dual HBV and HCV infection, comparable to those with hepatitis C infection alone. Combination therapy using 3 MU IFN-alpha seemed as effective as 5 MU, and was well tolerated in the study population. However, large-scale control trials are necessary to clarify these findings.