Responses to peginterferon alfa-2a vs alfa-2b plus ribavirin in a Mexican population with chronic hepatitis C

The WHO estimates that 180 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) throughout the world. Despite the emergence of new therapies, the combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin remains the accepted standard of care in low-income countries, including Mexico. Two types of peginterferon are available (peginterferon alfa-2a and peginterferon alfa-2b), and both are recommended for the treatment of HCV, although there is controversy over which treatment option is most effective.