Italian Medicine Agency.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of triple antiviral therapy with interferon, ribavirin, and amantadine in comparison with interferon and ribavirin combination treatment in patients with interferon-nonresponsive chronic hepatitis C. We performed an open-label, prospective randomized controlled trial at a secondary referral center. We used a 2:1 ratio, patients received interferon, ribavirin, and amantadine, or interferon and ribavirin for 12 months, and were followed up for an additional 6 months. Ninety-four consecutive adult interferon nonresponders with chronic hepatitis C were screened. Sixty consecutive elected patients entered the study. No patients withdrew because of adverse effects. Forty patients received interferon alfa (5 megaunits on alternate days), ribavirin (800-1,000 mg daily), and amantadine ( The combination of interferon alfa and ribavirin is effective as both initial treatment and re-treatment of relapse in patients with chronic hepatitis C. 1-3 Re-treatment for interferon nonresponders is not currently recommended because, unfortunately, both interferon alfa and the combination of interferon plus ribavirin have obtained limited results in interferon nonresponders. 4,5

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