Is interferon treatment expensive?

Is interferon treatment expensive?

Results: The total cost of the IFN treatment regimen was estimated to range between US$1,120 and US$1,962. The total cost of the Peg-IFN treatment regimen was between US$2,156 and US$5,887.

What are the side effects of interferon therapy?

A wide array of adverse effects of alpha interferon have been described. Several side effects such as fever, headache fatigue, arthralgias, and myalgias are common, especially with the initial injections. These early side effects of interferon are predictable and are encountered in the majority of patients.

Is peginterferon better than interferon?

The studies consistently demonstrated that peginterferon monotherapy was superior to standard interferon, even in patients with advanced fibrosis. With regard to combination interferon therapy, only two high-quality articles compared peginterferon plus ribavirin with standard interferon plus ribavirin.

What is ribavirin and how does it work?

Ribavirin is a synthetic guanosine analogue, which acts against hepatitis C virus (HCV) through several mechanisms that include 1) immune modulation; 2) inhibition of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase 3) inhibition of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase; 4) induction of HCV mutagenesis; and 5) modulation of interferon- ...

Where do you get interferon?

Interferons are a family of naturally-occurring proteins that are made and secreted by cells of the immune system (for example, white blood cells, natural killer cells, fibroblasts, and epithelial cells). Three classes of interferons have been identified: alpha, beta, and.

What is interferon used to treat?

Interferon alfa-2b injection is used to treat hepatitis B and C, lymphoma (lymph node cancer), malignant melanoma (skin cancer), genital warts, hairy cell leukemia (blood cell cancer), and Kaposi sarcoma (AIDS-related tumor). Interferons are substances produced by cells in the body to help fight infections and tumors.

How long can you take interferon?

Interferon treatment for hepatitis C would typically last 24–48 weeks (6–12 months). Interferons caused many long-term side effects partly because of this long treatment time. Using the drug for this length of time gave side effects a chance to develop and get worse.

Is interferon a chemo drug?

Interferon-alfa2b is different than a chemotherapy drug; it is actually a natural part of your body's immune system. It is known as a cytokine, which are chemicals normally secreted by cells called leukocytes in response to a virus, bacteria, or other foreign intruders.

How does pegylated interferon work?

Combining peginterferon alfa-2a or alfa-2b with ribavirin produces better activity against HCV than either drug alone. Interferon works by binding to specific receptors on the cell surface that initiate a complex cascade of protein-protein interactions leading to rapid activation of gene transcription.

What is the difference between interferon alpha 2a and 2b?

The main difference between these two pegylated interferons is in the dosing. Alfa-2a is used as a fixed weekly dose. Alfa-2b is used as a weekly dose based on the weight of the patient. There are other differences between the two drugs, but they are mostly technical and are used by the prescribing physician.

Where to buy interferon?

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What are the side effects of interferon therapy?

• Side effects of interferon therapy are similar to those of other chemotherapy treatments, and may be severe enough to limit the dosage given. Interferon therapy is common in treating multiple sclerosis and other conditions. An interferon response may cause fever, body aches, and fatigue.

Is interferon chemotherapy?

• Interferon therapy is used (in combination with chemotherapy and radiation) as a treatment for some cancers. This treatment can be used in hematological malignancy; leukemia and lymphomas including hairy cell leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, nodular lymphoma, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

What is the best definition of interferon?

• Definition of interferon.: any of a group of heat-stable soluble basic antiviral glycoprotein cytokines of low molecular weight that are produced by cells exposed usually to the action of a virus, sometimes to the action of another intracellular parasite (such as a bacterium), or experimentally to the action of some chemicals.