Assessment of the Efficacy of Reducing Peginterferon Alfa-2a and Ribavirin Dose on Virologic Response in Koreans with Chronic Hepatitis C
The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
;
: 203-211, 2009.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-150690
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS:
The virologic response of Koreans to combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C is similar to westerns; however, dose modification occurs more frequently in Koreans. We evaluated the rates of peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin dose modifications and their effect on the virologic response in Koreans.METHODS:
Patients with detectable HCV RNA and enrolled from multicenters were treated with peginterferon alpha-2a (180 microgram/week) and ribavirin (800 mg/day) for 24 weeks (genotype non-1, n=37) or peginterferon alpha-2a (180 microgram/week) and ribavirin (1,000-1,200 mg/day) for 48 weeks (genotype 1, n=55).RESULTS:
Early virologic response (EVR) and sustained virologic response (SVR) were 77.2% (genotype 1, 75%; non-1, 81%) and 66.3% (genotype 1, 56%; non-1, 81%), respectively. The frequency of dose modification was 32.6% within the first 12 weeks and 52.2% during the entire treatment period. No difference was found in SVR regardless of dose modification. However, the SVR for patients using > or =80% of the peginterferon dose was significantly higher than for those using <80% (81.3 vs. 50.0%, p=0.007), despite varying ribavirin doses. No difference was found in SVR regardless of whether the ribavirin dose was <80% or not. These results did not change based on genotype.CONCLUSIONS:
We suggest that using at least 80% of the peginterferon alpha-2a dose in Koreans not only maintains SVR but also reduces drug side effects during the entire treatment period. A lower dose of ribavirin may be as efficacious as a standard dose.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Antiviral Agents
/
Polyethylene Glycols
/
Ribavirin
/
RNA, Viral
/
Hepatitis C, Chronic
/
Drug Therapy, Combination
/
Interferon alpha-2
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
Year:
2009
Type:
Article
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