Abstract

FREIRE, R. et al. Interferão peguilado e ribavirina em doentes com hepatite crónica sem resposta sustentada ao interferão standard e ribavirina. J Port Gastrenterol. [online]. 2006, vol.13, n.2, pp.66-74. ISSN 0872-8178.

Introduction: Treatment failures were frequent before peginterferon and ribavirin become standard therapy for chronic hepatitis C. Overall, a sustained virologic response can now be achieved in over 50% of patients, a 17-25% higher rate than that with standard interferon and ribavirin, which may sustain a retreatment strategy for patients with no response to previous therapies. Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of retreatment with peginterferon and ribavirin in patients who failed treatment with standard interferon and ribavirin and to identify factors associated with a favourable outcome. Patients and Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients retreated with peginterferon and ribavirin after treatment failure with standard interferon and ribavirin. Results: Twenty-seven patients were included (78% male, mean age of 43 years, 85% with genotype 1). Serum HCV RNA was higher than 500.000 IU/L in 14 patients. Fifteen patients had been previously treated with standard interferon monotherapy. All were treated with, and failed, standard interferon and ribavirin. With retreatment (peginterferon and ribavirin), a sustained response was achieved in 25,9% (7 patients). Factors associated with a favourable outcome were early virologic response on retreatment and absence of previous interferon monotherapy. Conclusions: Retreatment should be considered, particularly in selected patients with factors predictive of a favourable outcome.

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