Efficacy and tolerability of peginterferon alpha-2a with or without ribavirin in thalassaemia major patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Abstract

Thalassaemia patients with genotype 1 or 4 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were randomised to receive peginterferon alpha-2a 180 mg/week ribavirin for 48 weeks. Primary efficacy variable was sustained viral response (SVR) at 72 weeks. Thirty-two patients were evaluated; 20 enrolled. Baseline characteristics were comparable. SVR occurred in four of 12 and five of eight patients in the monotherapy and combination groups (30% and 62.5%; P=0.19), respectively. Undetectable RNA at 12 weeks and age <18 years were associated with improved SVR (P<0.05). Transfusion requirements rose by 34% in the combination arm (P=0.08). Peginterferon/ribavirin was effective in thalassaemics with HCV and moderate iron overload.

• Authors: Adlette Inati, Ali Taher, Sandy Ghorra, Suzanne Koussa, Marwan Taha, Elie Aoun, Ala I Sharara
• Journal: British journal of haematology (Br J Haematol) Vol. 130 Issue 4 Pg. 644-6 (Aug 2005) ISSN: 0007-1048 [Print] England
• PMID: 16098081 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha
• RNA, Viral
• Recombinant Proteins
• Polyethylene Glycols
• Ribavirin
• peginterferon alfa-2a

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Blood Transfusion
• Child
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Hepacivirus (genetics)
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha (therapeutic use)
• Lebanon
• Male
• Polyethylene Glycols (therapeutic use)
• RNA, Viral (blood)
• Recombinant Proteins
• Ribavirin (therapeutic use)
• Viral Load
• beta-Thalassemia (drug therapy, virology)