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Vol. 16. Issue 3.
La Mucoviscidose
Pages 297-299 (May - June 2012)
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Vol. 16. Issue 3.
La Mucoviscidose
Pages 297-299 (May - June 2012)
Open Access
Induction with ribavirin in a relapsing patient with chronic HCV hepatitis
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Claudio Ucciferria,b, Paola Mancinob, Francesca Vignaleb, Jacopo Vecchietb,
Corresponding author
jvecchiet@unich.it

Corresponding author at: Department of Infectious Diseases, Università “G. d’Annunzio”, 66100, Chieti, Italy.
, Katia Falascab
a Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Health Sciences. University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
b Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Aging. University “G. d’Annunzio” Cheti-Pescara, Italy
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Abstract

In this case, a new possible strategy for treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) relapsing patients is described. The target of anti-HCV therapy is sustained viral response, but strategies for improving sustained viral response in relapsing patients would be useful, and ribavirin is crucial for obtaining viral response. Six weeks of induction therapy with ribavirin were used to improve efficacy of standard combined antiviral therapy in a patient relapsing to standard therapy. In the present case, the patient had undergone a retreatment with the same regimen with the exception of the six-week induction period with ribavirin. Use of induction therapy with ribavirin in this case has allowed for a sustained viral response without prolonging the interferon exposure time in retreatment.

Keywords:
Induction
Re-treatment
Sustained viral response
Hepatitis C virus
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