The Combination Therapy with Peg-interferon Alfa and Ribavirin for Chronic Hepatitis C in Korea as an Initial Treatment.
10.7180/kmj.2012.27.2.111
- Author:
Dong Hyun PARK
1
;
Sang Uk LEE
;
Jin Seok YU
;
Jun Seop LEE
;
Hye Jung KWON
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kosin University, Gospel Hospital, Busan, Korea. fk506@dreamwiz.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Hepatitis C;
Peginterferon alfa-2a;
Peginterferon alfa-2b;
Ribavirin
- MeSH:
Anemia;
Exanthema;
Genotype;
Hepatitis C;
Hepatitis C, Chronic;
Hepatitis, Chronic;
Humans;
Interferon-alpha;
Interferons;
Korea;
Leukopenia;
Polyethylene Glycols;
Pruritus;
Recombinant Proteins;
Retrospective Studies;
Ribavirin
- From:Kosin Medical Journal
2012;27(2):111-118
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: The combination therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin has been used to treat chronic hepatitis C for several years in Korea but there is a few report about the results of the treatment. We evaluated safety and efficacy of the combination therapy with Peg-interferon and ribavirin and analyzed factors that may affect treatment. METHODS: Total 72 untreated chronic hepatitis C patients were administered pegylated interferon alfa-2a (180microg/week) or alfa-2b (1.5microg/kg/week) and ribavirin (800 mg/day in genotype 2, 1000-1200 mg/day in genotype 1). Duration of the treatment was 24 weeks in genotype 2 and 48 weeks in genotype 1. Response of the treatment was evaluated by rapid virologic response (RVR), early virologic response (EVR), end treatment virologic response (ETR), sustained virologic response (SVR) and adverse event. RESULTS: The RVR, EVR, ETR, SVR were 61.8%, 82.5%, 88.9% and 80.5% retrospectively. The SVR of genotype 1 was 63.4% and non-genotype 1 was 96.7%. Genotype (Odds ratio: 14.92) was an independent predictor of the SVR. Leukocytopenia, flu-like symptoms, itching, rash and anemia were common adverse events of the combination therapy and if then we reduced dose and there was one case of cessation. CONCLUSIONS: The combination therapy with Peg-interferon and ribavirin shows efficacy to the Korean patients with chronic hepatitis C as an initial treatment. Genotypes 2 and 3 were more likely to have a sustained virologic response.
