850 IN VIVO EVALUATION OF ANTI-HCV ACTIVITY OF FLUVASTATIN: A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

Management of these patients is the most challenging task. We have originally developed IFN combined cyclosporine A treatment and also reported its favorable anti-HCV effect. We report here the efficacy of divided administration of IFNb plus cyclosporine A in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients who failed Peg-IFN or IFN combined ribavirin. Methods: We included 59 patients (median age, 63) with 1) histologically proven chronic hepatitis C, 2) genotype 1b and 3) non-responders and relapsers to combination IFN plus ribavirin or combination pegylated IFN plus ribavirin. We conducted the present study to confirm the efficacy, safety and tolerability of our protocol. Serum HCVRNA level was 3900 KIU/ml. The treatments consisted of an induction therapy, an intensified therapy and a maintenance therapy. The induction therapy comprised intravenous 1 MU IFNb every 4 hours for the first 3 days, 1.5 MU IFNb every 6 hours for the next 4 days and 2 MU IFNb every 8 hours for the following 3 weeks, totaling 168 MU of IFNb. The intensified therapy was induction therapy shortened to 2weeks. The maintenance therapy comprised of pegylated IFNa2b and ribavirin. CsA was given 4 times daily for a total dose of 200mg during the induction and the intensified therapies. Ribavirin was given twice daily for a total dose of 800mg or 600mg during the maintenance therapy. Results: The ETR and SVR rate of the present study were 73% (43/59) and 59% (35/59), respectively. The relapse rate was 19% (8/43). SVR in previous combination therapy relapsers was 80% (32/40) and that in previous combination therapy non-responders was 16% (3/19). Conclusion: We concluded that our protocol should be effective in relapsers to the previous combination therapies. Host factor targeting treatment will become a promising treatment option.