[Treatment of acute hepatitis C]

It has been recognized that, with certain limitations, interferon (IFN) alpha and beta, whether alone or combined with ribavirin, is the first choice therapy for chronic hepatitis C. The administration of standard interferon during 12 months reaches an acceptable effectiveness, although it's not the best. Interferon only achieves a sustained response in 20% of the cases. When it's combined with ribavirin, the sustained response reaches 35%. Recently, the development of pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin increased the sustained viral response to 55 percent. With respect to duration of therapy with standard doses (3 MU 3 times a week), the prolongation of the program doesn't seem to improve the results. On the other hand, higher doses give better results. Two recent non-control studies included interferon doses of 5-10 MU during 3-24 months. This high dose raised the rate of sustained ALT response to 90% and 98%, and the viral response to 82% and 98%, in both studies. Interferon alpha or beta is recommended for patients with acute hepatitis C. The usual dose is 3 MU, 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Therapy should begin as soon as possible.