Interferon‐α plus ribavirin for 12 months increases the sustained response rates in chronic hepatitis C relapsers

Background: The effectiveness and tolerability of combination therapy for 12 months have not been evaluated sufficiently in chronic hepatitis C relapsers to interferon. Aims: To evaluate the sustained response to interferon plus ribavirin for 12 months in chronic hepatitis C relapsers. Methods: We included 55 chronic hepatitis C relapsers in a 12‐month treatment protocol with interferon (3 MU thrice weekly) plus ribavirin (1–1.2 g/day). The effectiveness was evaluated using serum aminotransferase and hepatitis C virus RNA levels, alanine aminotransferase normalization and viraemia clearance after 12 months, defining the end‐of‐treatment response, and 6 months after completion of therapy, defining the sustained response. Adverse effects were recorded. Results: End‐of‐treatment response and sustained response were achieved in 47 (85%) and 37 (67%) patients, respectively; there were 10 (21%) relapsers after combination therapy. Predictive factors of sustained response included the genotype (non‐1 95% vs. 1 48%; P