Interferon alfa-2b alone or in combination with ribavirin for the treatment of relapse of chronic hepatitis C

Article Abstract:

Patients with hepatitis C who experience a relapse following interferon alpha treatment may benefit from ribavirin in addition to interferon alpha. Researchers randomly assigned 345 such patients to take interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin or interferon alpha-2b alone. After 24 weeks of treatment, 82% of those taking both drugs had no detectable levels of hepatitis C virus in their blood, compared to only 47% of those on interferon alpha-2b alone. Half of those taking both drugs continued to have undetectable virus levels 24 weeks after treatment ended, compared to 5% of those taking interferon alpha-2b alone.

Hepatitis C, Interferon alpha, Ribavirin

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Lamivudine as initial treatment for chronic hepatitis B in the United States

Article Abstract:

The drug lamivudine appears to be beneficial in the treatment of hepatitis B. This drug is most commonly used to treat HIV infection. In a study of 137 patients, 66 were treated with lamivudine for one year and 71 were treated with a placebo, or inactive substance. Lamivudine was more successful in suppressing the hepatitis B virus than the placebo and was more effective in preventing damage to the liver.

Hepatitis B, Lamivudine

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