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A randomized, prospective trial of ribavirin 400 mg/day versus 800 mg/day in combination with peginterferon alfa‐2a in hepatitis C virus genotypes 2 and 3
Author(s) -
Ferenci Peter,
Brunner Harald,
Laferl Hermann,
Scherzer ThomasMatthias,
Maieron Andreas,
Strasser Michael,
Fischer Gabriele,
Hofer Harald,
Bischof Martin,
Stauber Rudolf,
Gschwantler Michael,
SteindlMunda Petra,
Staufer Katharina,
Löschenberger Karin
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.22262
Subject(s) - ribavirin , medicine , gastroenterology , tolerability , randomized controlled trial , peginterferon alfa 2a , hepatology , adverse effect , hepatitis c virus , genotype , confidence interval , incidence (geometry) , surgery , immunology , virus , biology , biochemistry , gene , physics , optics
We compared the efficacy and tolerability of 24 weeks of treatment with ribavirin 800 mg/day (group A) or 400 mg/day (group B) plus peginterferon alfa‐2a 180 μg/week in treatment‐naive patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 or 3. A total of 97 of 141 patients randomized to group A (68.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 60.5%‐76.3%) and 90 of 141 patients randomized to group B (63.8; 95% CI 55.3%‐71.7%) achieved a sustained virological response, defined as undetectable serum HCV RNA at the end of untreated follow‐up (week 48). Among patients infected with genotype 3, the rate of sustained virological response was 67.5% (95% CI 58.4%‐75.6%) in group A and 63.9% (95% CI 54.7%‐72.4%) in group B, and among patients infected with genotype 2, the rate of sustained virological response was 77.8% (95% CI 54.2%‐93.6%) in group A and 55.6% (95% CI 38.4%‐83.7%) in group B. Relapse rates in the 2 treatment groups were similar (17% in group A and 20% in group B). The incidence of adverse events, laboratory abnormalities, and dose reductions was similar in the 2 treatment groups. Conclusion: The results suggest that when administered for 24 weeks with peginterferon alfa‐2a, ribavirin doses of 400 and 800 mg/day produce equivalent outcomes in patients infected with HCV genotype 3. (H EPATOLOGY 2008.)