Ribavirin-induced anemia in hepatitis C virus patients undergoing combination therapy.

ABSTRACT: The current standard of care for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection - combination therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin - elicits sustained responses in only ∼50% of the patients treated. No alternatives exist for patients who do not respond to combination therapy. Addition of ribavirin substantially improves response rates to interferon and lowers relapse rates following the cessation of therapy, suggesting that increasing ribavirin exposure may further improve treatment response. A key limitation, however, is the toxic side-effect of ribavirin, hemolytic anemia, which often necessitates a reduction of ribavirin dosage and compromises treatment response. Maximizing treatment response thus requires striking a balance between the antiviral and hemolytic activities of ribavirin. Cur

SUBMITTER: Krishnan SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3033369 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature