the optimal treatment for nonresponders and relapsers is not well established. a minority of nonresponders (6% to 12%) will respond to a second course of pegylated interferon and ribavirin. patients initially treated with older interferon alpha monotherapy can be considered for either pegylated interferon alpha monotherapy or pegylated interferon alpha plus ribavirin therapy. newer preparations of interferon such as "consensus interferon" and albumin interferon are being studied and show promise in persons who did not respond to combination therapy. despite the failure to achieve sustained virologic response treatment may slow the progression of hcv to cirrhosis although this has not been shown for certain.
how are hepatitis c relapses and nonresponders treated?