High-dose interferon-α2b induction therapy in combination with ribavirin for treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients with non-response or relapse after interferon-α monotherapy

Table 2 Response rates in relation to an early viral response in former non-responders after IFN-α monotherapy

Treatment week	“Fast responder” (HCV RNA negative at wk 12, n = 31)	“Slow responder” (HCV RNA negative after wk 12, n = 9)	P
48 (ETR, %)	25 patients PCR negative (81)	3 patients PCR negative (33)	0.0121
Follow-up (SR, %)	20 patients PCR negative (65)	0 patient PCR negative (0)	0.0011

¹Fisher’s exact test.