Highly effective peginterferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C in hemophilia in Korea.
10.3350/cmh.2015.21.2.125
- Author:
Suh Yoon YANG
1
;
Hyun Woong LEE
;
Youn Jae LEE
;
Sung Jae PARK
;
Ki Young YOO
;
Hyung Joon KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Gastrohepatology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. mdjoon@cau.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Clinical Trial
- Keywords:
Chronic hepatitis C;
Hemophilia;
Peginterferon;
Ribavirin
- MeSH:
Adult;
Aged;
Antiviral Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use;
Drug Therapy, Combination;
Fatigue/etiology;
Female;
Genotype;
Headache/etiology;
Hemophilia A/*complications;
Hepacivirus/genetics;
Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications/*drug therapy/virology;
Humans;
Interferon-alpha/adverse effects/*therapeutic use;
Liver/pathology;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Neutropenia/etiology;
Polyethylene Glycols/adverse effects/*therapeutic use;
RNA, Viral/blood;
Recombinant Proteins/adverse effects/therapeutic use;
Recurrence;
Republic of Korea;
Ribavirin/adverse effects/*therapeutic use;
Treatment Outcome
- From:Clinical and Molecular Hepatology
2015;21(2):125-130
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a major comorbidity in patients with hemophilia. However, there are no published data on the efficacy of antiviral therapy in Korea. We assessed the safety and efficacy of combination therapy with peginterferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin for CHC in hemophilia. METHODS: Patients (n=115) were enrolled between March 2007 and December 2008. Seventy-seven patients were genotype 1 or 6, and 38 patients were genotype 2 or 3. We evaluated rapid virologic responses (RVRs), early virologic response (EVRs), end-of-treatment response (ETRs), sustained virologic response (SVRs), and relapses. Safety evaluations included adverse events and laboratory tests. RESULTS: Eleven patients were excluded from the study because they had been treated previously. Among the remaining 104 treatment-naive patients, RVR was achieved in 64 (60.6%), ETR was achieved in 95 (91.3%), and SVR was achieved in 89 (85.6%). Relapse occurred in eight patients (8.9%). Common adverse events were hair loss (56.7%) and headache (51.0%). Common hematologic adverse events were neutropenia (22.1%), anemia (27.9%), and thrombocytopenia (3.8%). However, there were no serious adverse events such as bleeding. RVR was the only predictor of SVR in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Peginterferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin combination treatment produced a favorable response rate in CHC patients with hemophilia without serious adverse events.
