Non-responders will be taken out of the study and receive open level Entecavir plus Lamivudine. Liver biopsies are optional. Study pays for drugs, labs, biopsies, and doctors visits while in the study. Adefovir is supplied by manufacturer. Labs are billed to the patient's insurance.
Liver biopsy is requested if safe to perform.
NIH is sponsoring a clinical trial in hepatitis C patients who failed to respond to previous treatments to determine the effectiveness of long-term antiviral therapy in the prevention of cirrhosis, liver failure, and cancer. The University of Michigan Hepatitis program has been selected as one of 9 centers nationwide to participate in this important trial. Current treatment, interferon plus ribavirin, results in a sustained viral response in less than half of Hepatitis C patients. Some studies suggest that interferon may decrease liver damage and risks of developing liver cancer even in patients who failed to clear the virus. Because interferon is an expensive treatment and may cause many side effects, a proper study is needed to confirm if interferon is beneficial in patients with Hepatitis C even if they do not clear the virus.