Influence of Ribavirin on the Initial Virological Response in Treatment Naïve Patients With Hepatitis C Genotype 1 Infection
Hepatitis C, Chronic

About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Hepatitis C, Chronic
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Caucasians, male or female aged between 18 and 70 years
- Indication: serological proof of a chronic hepatitis C infection with positive result of anti-Hepatitis C virus (HCV) test and detectable HCV- Ribo Nucleic Acid (RNA) in serum
- Proven HCV genotype 1 by means of the reverse hybridization assays
- Proven histological infection activity within the liver with or without proven compensated cirrhosis within the last 24 months prior to start of the study (Child-Pugh degree A)
- Participants without previous anti-HCV therapy
Exclusion Criteria:
- Known hypersensitivity to interferon or ribavirin or any of the other component parts
- Pregnant or nursing women, women with child bearing potential and without using a high effective method of contraception. The urine and serum pregnancy test at visit 0 in fertile participants or cohabitants of participants must show a negative result
- Male partners of pregnant women
- Infection with HCV genotype 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6
- Pretreatment with interferon and/or ribavirin
- Immunocompromised participants
- Treatment of systemic anti-neoplastic or immunomodulatoric medication (including supraphysiological doses of steroids or radiation therapy) within the last 6 months prior to the start of treatment and during the complete time interval of study treatment
- Chronic hepatitis due to hepatitis C virus (e.g. haemochromatosis, autoimmunohepatitis, metabolic or alcohol-related liver disease)
- Decompensated liver cirrhosis or liver disease Child-Pugh degree B or C or condition after decompensation
- Signs of a hepatocellular carcinoma within 2 months prior to randomization in case of a cirrhosis or a transition to cirrhosis
- Ascites or esophagus varices with bleedings as documented in anamnesis
- Any medical condition that questions in the opinion of the investigator the participant's enrollment and participation in the trial
- Hemoglobin <13 grams/deciliter (g/dl) in females and <14 g/dl in males in screening phase
- Patients with an increased anemia risk (e.g. thalassemia, spherocytosis, etc.) or patients which would be at a particular medical risk in case of an anemia
- Diagnosed neutropenia <1.500/microliter (mcl) or thrombocytopenia <90.000/mcl in screening phase
Sites / Locations
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Experimental
Placebo Comparator
Experimental
Pegylated Interferon (PEG-IFN) alfa-2a
Placebo
Ribavirin
Participants with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 1, received pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alfa-2a monotherapy for 6 weeks. Thereafter, all participants received combination therapy with PEG-IFN alfa-2a plus ribavirin for 12 weeks.
Participants with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 1, received ribavirin matching placebo for 6 weeks. Thereafter, all participants received combination therapy with PEG-IFN alfa-2a plus ribavirin for 12 weeks.
Participants with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 1, received ribavirin monotherapy for 6 weeks. Thereafter, all participants received combination therapy with PEG-IFN alfa-2a plus ribavirin for 12 weeks.