My research focuses on the treatment of viral hepatitis.
Ribavirin is an oral antiviral drug that has activity against several viruses.
Although it is ineffective as monotherapy against HCV, ribavirin in combination with interferon-alpha seems to increase the likelihood of durable response in patients with HCV not previously treated with interferon. The most important side effect was hemolytic anemia, which occurred in most patients treated with this dose of ribavirin. I am the co-principal investigator at MGH for this trial. Chronic Hepatitis C. Preliminary data suggest that interferon plus ribavirin therapy may be effective in patients with HCV that relapsed after interferon monotherapy. Less promising results have been obtained when this combination therapy is given to patients with interferon-refractory disease.