Duration of peginterferon therapy in acute hepatitis C: A randomized trial
Kamal, S.M.; Moustafa, K.N.; Chen, J.; Fehr, J.; Moneim, A.A.; Khalifa, Khalifa; El Gohary, L.A.; Ramy, A.H.; Madwar, M.A.; Rasenack, J.; Afdhal, N.H.;
Abstract
Spontaneous resolution of acute hepatitis C virus infection cannot be predicted, and chronic evolution of the disease occurs in a majority of cases. To assess the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alpha-2b administered for 8, 12, or 24 weeks in patients with acute hepatitis C virus infection a total of 161 patients were identified with acute hepatitis C virus infection. Of these, 30 patients refused treatment but were retained in the study as a nonrandomized comparison group. Of the 131 patients who consented to treatment, 29 patients spontaneously resolved, leaving 102 patients randomly assigned to peginterferon alpha-2b (1.5 microg/kg) for 8 weeks (group A; n=34), 12 weeks (group B; n=34), and 24 weeks (group C; n=34). The primary end point was sustained virologic response. An intent-to-treat analysis was used for efficacy and safety end points. Sustained virologic response was achieved in 23/34 (67.6%), 28/34 (82.4%), and 31/34 (91.2%) of patients in groups A, B, and C, respectively; all had undetectable hepatitis C virus RNA 48 weeks after the end of therapy. Treatment for 8 or 12 weeks was effective in genotypes 2, 3, and 4, whereas genotype 1 required 24 weeks of therapy. The 8- and 12-week regimens were associated with fewer adverse events compared with the 24-week regimen. In conclusion, peginterferon alpha-2b effectively induces high sustained virologic response rates in patients with acute hepatitis C virus infection, thus preventing development of chronic hepatitis C. Duration of treatment should be further optimized based on genotype and rapid virologic response at week 4.
Other data
Title | Duration of peginterferon therapy in acute hepatitis C: A randomized trial | Authors | Kamal, S.M. ; Moustafa, K.N. ; Chen, J. ; Fehr, J. ; Moneim, A.A. ; Khalifa, Khalifa ; El Gohary, L.A. ; Ramy, A.H. ; Madwar, M.A. ; Rasenack, J. ; Afdhal, N.H. | Issue Date | 2006 | Journal | Hepatology | DOI | 5 923-31 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-33646562220&partnerID=MN8TOARS 43 10.1002/hep.21197 |
PubMed ID | 16628640 | Scopus ID | 2-s2.0-33646562220 |
Recommend this item
Similar Items from Core Recommender Database
Items in Ain Shams Scholar are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.