What is the difference between interferon and the so-called “combination therapy?
At the current time combination therapy is the treatment of choice and is recommended by most hepatologists. Although interferon in many will produce long-term lasting remission in a small percentage of patients ~(20%), studies suggests that combination therapy will increase the chances of long-term sustained response ~(40%) significantly enough to make combination therapy the initial treatment of choice. Now that PEG Intron (Shering product) and Pegasys (Roche product) is available it is likely that combination therapy with these Interferon products plus Ribavirin will be the treatment of choice. Interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin (REBETRON)is the combination currently in use. Interferon is dosed at 3 million units three times a week, given as a subcutaneous (in the skin) injection, combined with ribavirin tablets (1000 or 1200 mg) daily dosing depends upon weight. It is likely that we will use weight based dosing of the Pegylated interferon as well. The standard course of therapy is
