Ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C

Canadian Medical Association Journal 1996; 154: 864

Source: Di Bisceglie AM, Conjeevaram HS, Fried MW et al: Ribavirin as therapy for chronic hepatitis C: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 1995; 123: 897-903

Researchers in Maryland investigated the therapeutic effects of ribavirin, a broad-spectrum antiviral agent, in a 48-week randomized placebo-controlled trial involving 58 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels decreased rapidly during the first 2 months and remained stable thereafter in the treatment group, but they reverted to pretreatment levels within 2 to 3 months after therapy was discontinued. Liver biopsy showed a decrease in inflammation and necrosis only among patients receiving ribavirin whose ALT level became normal. Serum HCV RNA levels were unchanged in both groups, and all patients remained HCV-positive. The researchers concluded that ribavirin is of limited value as a single short-term therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

| CMAJ March 15, 1996 (vol 154, no 6) |