Cost-effectiveness analysis of interferon α-2b with ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C infection

Hepatitis C infection is often referred to as the "silent epidemic" because so many persons are unaware they are infected with the virus. Interferon alpha (IFN) has been the mainstay treatment for hepatitis C, but IFN monotherapy generally does not result in sustained normalization of serum alanine amino-transferase. Recently, combination therapy with IFN plus ribavirin has been shown to increase therapeutic response, but at a substantial increase in drug acquisition costs. This article provides a critique of a recently published economic analysis comparing IFN and ribavirin combination therapy with IFN monotherapy.