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OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this randomized open-label study was to assess the efficacy of treatment with pegylated interferon-alpha-2a versus pegylated interferon-alpha-2b, both plus ribavirin, in inducing early and sustained virological response (EVR and SVR) in chronic hepatitis C non-responders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 108 patients with chronic hepatitis C who were non-responders to previous combined therapy (standard interferon-alpha plus ribavirin for >/=3 months) were enrolled and equally randomized into two groups in this intention-to-treat analysis. The patients exhibited similar baseline features. One group received subcutaneous pegylated interferon-alpha-2a 180 mug once weekly, while the other was treated with subcutaneous pegylated interferon-alpha-2b 1.5 mug/kg once weekly. Ribavirin 15 mg/kg/day was included in both protocols. Treatment duration for EVR was 12 weeks. Patients who demonstrated non-detectable hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA or a >/=2 log(10) reduction in viral load at week 12 continued therapy up to 48 weeks, with assessments every 3 months during a follow-up of 24 weeks. RESULTS: All patients in both groups completed the EVR study, then seven patients receiving pegylated interferon-alpha-2a and seven patients receiving pegylated interferon-alpha2b discontinued treatment as a result of severe adverse effects. After 12 weeks of treatment, viral load reduction was >2 log(10) with both pegylated interferon-alpha-2a (-2.53) and pegylated interferon-alpha-2b (-2.48) with no significant difference. At the end of week 48, HCV RNA was undetectable in 14 of 54 patients (25.9%) receiving pegylated interferon-alpha-2a and in 15 of 54 patients (27.7%) receiving pegylated interferon-alpha-2b. When terminating follow-up, an SVR was observed in 11 of 54 patients (20.4%) who received pegylated interferon-alpha-2a and 10 of 54 patients (18.4%) receiving pegylated interferon-alpha-2b. The incidence and severity of adverse events was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results seem to show that in chronic hepatitis C patients who are non-responsive to previous therapy, EVR to the two pegylated interferons did not significantly differ with a similar therapeutic efficacy defined as SVR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of 56-year-old male teacher in the Cremona High School who presented with fever and diarrhoea. The patient tested positive for measles virus IgM. It notes the outbreak of measles genotype H1 in the southern part of Lombardy Region. and mentions that the case were isolated and isolation of suspected cases or unvaccinated contacts was strongly recommended to received post-exposure prophylaxis with measles vaccination.