Hi All,

Kindly have a look at the referenced article.

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/535281/
"Interferon Does Not Slow or Stop Progression of Hepatitis C in Certain
Patients."

The article reports on a major clinical trial: "Hepatitis C Antiviral
Long-Term Treatment against Cirrhosis (HALT-C)."  The trial determined
whether long-term interferon is helpful for people who had failed combo
therapy.  The answer is no.  All participants in the study, treated and
control arms, had previously failed combo (interferon/ribivirin)
therapy.  After 3.5 years, disease progression toward severe symptoms
(ascites, encephalopathy, liver cancer, cirrhosis or death) was equal
(about one third) regardless whether patients were on interferon
maintenance or not.

The study director concludes that this "... emphasizes the importance of
the ongoing search for new and more effective treatments."

Let me interpolate a bit.  It is quite common for people to have hep c
for decades without sesvere symptoms.  But after failed combination
therapy ..... maybe not.  Three and one half years out from failed combo
therapy, one third of patients progress to severe symptoms.  That seems
very fast.

Combo therapy makes sense for those who stand a good chance of success.
 But for people with resistant genotypes and/or long standing disease
and/or high viral counts, maybe HIV coinfection ... for these people the
chance of success is low.  And with failure, well, perhaps HCV becomes
more virulent.

At least that's how I read it. Your thoughts?

Mark