[Ribavirin--pharmacological features, antiviral effects against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and other viruses and side effects during treatment].

Ribavirin is a broad spectrum antiviral agent first synthesised in 1972. It shows varying degrees of clinical efficacy in a variety of human viral infections including viral hepatitis, respiratory tract infections and haemorrhagic fevers. This review focuses on the complicated pharmacokinetics of ribavirin as well as on its direct (antiviral) and indirect (immunomodulatory) modes of action with particular emphasis on its antiviral activity against HCV. Side effects and drug interactions have also been briefly described.