A reduced dose of ribavirin does not influence the virologic response during pegylated interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin combination therapy in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C.
10.3350/cmh.2012.18.3.272
- Author:
Byung Chul YOU
1
;
Young Seok KIM
;
Hun Il KIM
;
Se Hun KIM
;
Seung Sik PARK
;
Yu Ri SEO
;
Sang Gyune KIM
;
Se Whan LEE
;
Hong Soo KIM
;
Soung Won JEONG
;
Jae Young JANG
;
Boo Sung KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Soon Chun Hyang University Bucheon Hospital, Soon Chun Hyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea. liverkys@schmc.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Ribavirin;
Pegylated interferon alpha-2b;
Chronic hepatitis C;
Sustained virologic response;
Koreans
- MeSH:
Antiviral Agents/pharmacology/*therapeutic use;
Body Mass Index;
Body Weight;
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug;
Drug Administration Schedule;
Drug Therapy, Combination;
Female;
Genotype;
Hepacivirus/drug effects;
Hepatitis C, Chronic/*drug therapy/virology;
Humans;
Interferon-alpha/pharmacology/*therapeutic use;
Male;
Polyethylene Glycols/pharmacology/*therapeutic use;
RNA, Viral/analysis;
Recombinant Proteins/pharmacology/therapeutic use;
Retrospective Studies;
Ribavirin/pharmacology/*therapeutic use;
Sex Factors;
Treatment Outcome
- From:Clinical and Molecular Hepatology
2012;18(3):272-278
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: When combined with pegylated interferon alpha-2b (Peg-IFN alpha-2b) for the treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in Korea, the current guideline for the initial ribavirin (RBV) dose is based on body weight. However, since the mean body weight is lower for Korean patients than for patients in Western countries, current guidelines might result in Korean patients being overdosed with RBV. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with genotype 1 CHC who were treated with Peg-IFN alpha-2b and RBV combination therapy. We divided the patients into groups A (> or =15 mg/kg/day, n=23) and B (<15 mg/kg/day, n=26), given that the standard dose is 15 mg/kg/day. The clinical course in terms of the virologic response, adverse events, and dose modification rate was compared between the two groups after therapy completion. RESULTS: The early response rates (92.0% vs. 83.3%, P=0.634) and sustained virologic response rates (82.6% vs. 73.1%, P=0.506) did not differ significantly between the two groups. During the treatment period, the RBV dose reduction rate was significantly higher in group A than in group B (60.9% vs. 23.1%, P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: RBV dose reduction is performed frequently when patients are treated according to the current Korean guidelines. Given that lowering the RBV dose did not appear to decrease the virologic response during therapy, reducing RBV doses below the current Korean guideline may be effective for treatment, especially in low-weight patients.
