Interferon Alfa-2b Alone or in Combination with Ribavirin for the Treatment of Relapse of Chronic Hepatitis C

Nearly 4 million people in the United States and 100 million worldwide are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). 1 Of these, approximately 70 percent have chronic hepatitis and 15 to 20 percent will eventually have cirrhosis. 2 – 4 Chronic hepatitis C is the most common cause of chronic liver disease and the leading indication for liver transplantation in the United States. 1 , 5 Interferon alfa is the only effective treatment for chronic hepatitis C. 6 – 9 In approximately 40 percent of patients, serum alanine aminotransferase concentrations fall to normal and HCV RNA disappears from serum during short courses of treatment, but most . . .