Background : Response to a second-line anti-HCV treatment in non responder patients to a first-line dual therapy remains very poor. Preliminary studies of amantadine suggest that this drug could be potentially effective to treat hepatitis C.~Design : randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial.~Interventions compared : Peg-interferon alfa 2A + ribavirin + amantadine versus Peg-interferon alfa 2A + ribavirin + Placebo~Eligibility criteria : Chronic hepatitis C, previously treated with combination of interferon plus ribavirin for at least 24 weeks,detectable HCV RNA.~primary outcome : sustained virological response, defined as an undetectable HCV RNA level 24 weeks after the end of anti HCV treatment.
Response to a second-line anti-HCV treatment in non responder patients to a first-line dual therapy remains very poor. Preliminary studies of amantadine suggest that this drug could be potentially effective to treat hepatitis C.