ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:To compare the economics of interferon α1b and α2b in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. METH-ODS:By retrospective study,114 patients with chronic hepatitis C who received interferon were selected,60 patients received interfer-on α1b were divided into group A and 54 patients received interferon α2b were divided into group B. Negative conversion rate of HCV-RNA,normalization rate of ALT and the incidence of ADR in 2 groups were compared,and pharmacoeconomic analysis was conducted. RESULTS:Negative conversion rates of HCV-RNA in group A in 4,12,24,36,48 weeks were 55.00%,71.67%, 63.33%,61.67% and 65.00%,group B were 64.81%,66.67%,62.96%,55.56% and 61.11%,respectively,there were no signifi-cant differences between 2 groups (P>0.05);after treatment,normalization rate of ALT in group A was 95.23%,group B was 96.10%,there was no significant difference between 2 groups(P>0.05);and there were no significant differences in the incidence of ADR between 2 groups (P>0.05),so cost-minimization analysis was used to evaluate pharmacoeconomics. Therapy cost in group A was 13 216.56 yuan,group B was 7 929.60 yuan,group B was lower to group A;sensitivity analysis received the same results. CON-CLUSIONS:Interferonα2b is more economical thanα1b in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the dynamic changes and prognosis of thyroid function in the patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC)after antiviral treatment,and to clarify the influence of baseline factors in the changes of thyroid function.Methods 243 CHC patients with normal baseline thyroid function were enrolled. All patients were treated with IFN-alpha-2b(IFN-α2b)combined with ribavirin for 48 weeks.The thyroid function and serum HCV RNA level were assessed at 12,24,36,48,60 and 72 weeks.According to the changes in thyroid function after treatment,the patients were divided into continued normal,subclinical hypothyroidism,hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism groups.The regularity of the changes of thyroid function of the patients in various groups were observed.Results Among 243 CHC patients,82(33.7%)patients had thyroid dysfunction.The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism,hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism were 20.9%(51/243),5.3%(13/243)and 7.4%(18/243),respectively. At the end of 72 weeks,there were 32 (39.0%)patients suffering from subclinical hypothyroidism,12 (14.6%) patients with hypothyroidism and 7 (8.5%) patients with hyperthyroidism rehabilitated.6(7.3%)patients suffering from hypothyroidism turned to subclinical hypothyroidism,and 3(3.7%) patients suffering from hyperthyroidism turned to subclinical hypothyroidism.19(23.2%)patients had no significant change,they performed for continued subclinical hypothyroidism (1,1.2%),hypothyroidism (13,15.9%)and hyperthyroidism (5 , 6.1%).In addition, 3 (3.7%)patients with hyperthyroidism turned to hypothyroidism.An increased risk for hypothyroidism was found in female patients compared with males (P<0.05);the average age of the patients with hyperthyroidism was lower than those of the patients with hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism and continued normal (P<0.05);the baseline levels of GGT in the patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism were lower than those of the patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and continued normal(P<0.05).The ratio of the patients with HCV 2a to the patients with hypertyroidism was higher than those of the patients with hypothyroidism,subclinical hypothyroidism and continued normal(P<0.05).Conclusion Thyroid function in the CHC patients can be affected by antiviral treatment. Gender, age, liver function, genotype of HCV are influencing factors for the changes of thyroid function.