ABSTRACT
Retreatment with peginterferon plus ribavirin was initiated in 26 patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b infection (17 relapsers after the first course of therapy, 9 non-responders). So far, retreatment has been completed in 19 patients, one patient achieved a sustained virologic response, and 3 patients were relapsers. Therapy was discontinued in 14 patients (9 non-responders) because of a lack of a treatment response, and in 1 patient due to adverse effects. Retreatment is a new chance for patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. However successful outcome is rare especially in non-responders.
Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents/administration & dosage , Hepatitis C, Chronic/drug therapy , Interferon-alpha/administration & dosage , Polyethylene Glycols/administration & dosage , Ribavirin/administration & dosage , Adult , Aged , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Humans , Interferon alpha-2 , Male , Middle Aged , Recombinant Proteins , Recurrence , RetreatmentABSTRACT
Decapeptide ceruletide (CRL), chemically related to cholecystokinin and gastrin, proved to have remarkable analgesic properties when administered to a group of 22 burned patients, 15 patients with acute myocardial infarction, and 8 patients suffering from pain caused by malignant tumours with metastases. Its effect was such, that many of the patients required no other analgesics (opiates) even after a prolonged administration (up to 10 days) of CRL. In some of the patients a marked euphoria developed. There were no substantial changes in EEG records during CRL administration in 15 controls, among them 4 epileptics. It is probable that CRL helps to activate the internal analgesic system. In the burned patients cortisol, testosterone, renin, prolactin and tri-iodothyronine (T3) levels in serum (plasma) were measured (radio-immunoassays). CRL did not block the stress response (no drop of increased cortisol levels, no increase in low T3 levels), but it modified (influenced) it (drop of the high renin levels, and a tendency to increase the very low testosterone levels). CRL appears to act as an endorphin releaser, as evidenced by the plasma levels of beta-endorphins (quotations). CRL and similar drugs may represent a new, more physiological and probably safer approach to the management of pain.
