Sustained virologic response to interferon alpha (IFN-α) in chronic hepatitis C is associated with long-term histologic improvement and lack of hepatic HCV RNA

Interferon Alfa-2b Alone or in Combination with Ribavirin as Initial Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis C

“…Recent reports suggest that similar sustained virologic responses are usually long-lasting (5 to 10 years) and are accompanied by progressive histologic improvement. 28,29 In our study, late clearance of HCV RNA from serum during combination therapy was also frequently associated with a sustained response. This phenomenon is uncommon in patients who are treated with interferon alone, which suggests that stopping therapy at week 12 because of persistent viremia, as recently suggested, 1,18,30 may not be appropriate in the case of therapy with interferon and ribavirin.…”

Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Antiviral Effects of Hypericin, a Derivative of St. John's Wort Plant, in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

“…Although immune responses to the infecting organism are likely to play a role in disease pathogenesis (13), elimination of detectable virus from the blood is closely associated with the successful treatment of chronic HCV infection (15,20). In all clinical trials involving interferon preparations, long-term histologic and clinical outcome in a patient was determined by the sustained (Ͼ6 months after treatment ended) suppression of detectable HCV activity in plasma (15,20).…”

“…In all clinical trials involving interferon preparations, long-term histologic and clinical outcome in a patient was determined by the sustained (Ͼ6 months after treatment ended) suppression of detectable HCV activity in plasma (15,20). Thus, the lack of an effect of hypericin on plasma HCV levels strongly suggests that hypericin as a single agent has no role in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.…”

Interferon alfa‐2b plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C patients who have not responded to interferon monotherapy

“…According to recent reports, the sustained virological responses are usually long‐lasting (5–10 years) and accompanied by progressive histological improvement 26 , . 27 Therefore, we assume that our results represent some therapeutic gain for NR patients, a population that is likely to have a progressive clinical course.…”