Infliximab Treatment Along With Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin in the Treatment of Hepatitis C

Exclusion Criteria

• •Women who are pregnant, nursing, or planning pregnancy within 6 months after the last infusion and men with partners who are pregnant at baseline or intend to become pregnant within 6 months after the last infusion.
• •Known allergy against infliximab, ribavirin, or pegylated interferon
• •Decompensated liver disease characterized as decreased hepatic synthetic functioning with abnormal albumin and bilirubin levels, prolonged prothrombin time or complications including ascites or recent variceal bleeding
• •have a history of latent or active granulomatous infection, including TB, histoplasmosis, or coccidiomycosis (Valley Fever)
• •History of autoimmune hepatitis or a history of poorly controlled autoimmune disease
• •Use of other systemic anti-inflammatory medication except NSAIDs and low dose systemic steroids
• •Previous treatment with monoclonal antibodies or antibody fragments
• •History of receiving human/murine recombinant products or a known allergy to murine products
• •Documentation of seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• •History of alcohol or substance abuse within the preceding 6 months that, in the opinion of the investigator, may increase the risks associated with study participation or study agent administration, or may interfere with interpretation of results
• •History of serious infections (e.g., hepatitis, pneumonia or pyelonephritis) in the previous 3 months
• •Opportunistic infection within 6 months prior to screening
• •History of lymphoproliferative disease
• •Currently have any known malignancy or have a history of malignancy within the previous 5 years, with the exception of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has been fully excised with no evidence of recurrence
• •Current signs or symptoms of severe, progressive or uncontrolled renal, hepatic, hematologic, gastrointestinal, endocrine, pulmonary, cardiac, neurologic, or cerebral disease
• •Treatment with any other therapeutic agent targeted at reducing TNF within 3 months of screening
• •Presence of a transplanted solid organ
• •Concomitant diagnosis or history of congestive heart failure