Adding ribavirin to interferon alpha -2b for chronic hepatitis C infection increased virological response and nausea

Interferon -2b plus ribavirin (combination therapy) v interferon -2b alone (monotherapy) at 48 weeks in chronic hepatitis C virus infection^*

Outcome	Combination therapy	Mono- therapy	RBI (95% CI)	NNT (CI)
Virological response	36%	18%	100% (2 to 302)	6 (3 to 193)
Outcomes	Combination therapy	Mono- therapy	RRI (CI)	NNH (CI)
Dose reduction or treatment withdrawal	32%	12%	167% (19 to 520)	5 (3 to 27)
Nausea	34%	12%	183% (27 to 555)	5 (3 to 18)

^* RBI=proportional increase in rates of good outcomes between combination therapy and monotherapy groups; NNT=number of patients who must receive combination therapy to achieve 1 additional good outcome; RRI=proportional increase in rates of bad outcomes between combination therapy and monotherapy groups; NNH=number of patients who, if they received combination therapy, would lead to 1 additional person being harmed.