Open AccessEfficacy of Pegylated Interferon α‐2b and Ribavirin in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus (Genotypes 1 and 4) Infection
Author(s) -
WiśniewskaLigier Malgorzata,
Pawłowska Malgorzata,
Pilarczyk Malgorzata,
Halota Waldemar,
WoźniakowskaGęsicka Teresa
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1536-4801
pISSN - 0277-2116
DOI - 10.1097/mpg.0b013e3182a7d91e
Subject(s) - ribavirin , medicine , pegylated interferon , gastroenterology , asymptomatic , adverse effect , hepatitis c virus , cirrhosis , hepatitis c , genotype , immunology , virus , biochemistry , chemistry , gene
Background and Objective: The course of chronic hepatitis C in children is often mild or asymptomatic, but may lead to liver cirrhosis and neoplasm. The aim of our study was retrospective evaluation of treatment efficacy using pegylated interferon (IFN)‐α2b with ribavirin in children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis C, both treatment naïve and re‐treated. Methods: The study comprised 79 patients with chronic hepatitis C ages 8 to 18 years (43 patients re‐treated; 54 infected with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus and 25 with genotype 4), treated with pegylated IFN‐α2b (1.5 μg · kg −1 · week −1 ) plus ribavirin (15 mg · kg −1 · day −1 ) for 48 weeks. The primary endpoint was sustained virologic response (SVR). Results: Early viral response (EVR) was observed in 43.1% and end‐of‐treatment response in 47.9% of patients. In 44.3% of patients, SVR was achieved, which was maintained for at least the next 6 months. Patients not treated before significantly more frequently attained EVR, end‐of‐treatment response, and SVR (64%, 65.6%, and 63.9%, respectively) as compared with re‐treated patients (30%, 33.3%, and 27.9%, respectively). Among 28 patients who attained EVR, 23 achieved SVR. In 2 patients, despite lack of EVR, SVR was observed. There were numerous adverse effects. They were not so severe as to discontinue therapy. Conclusions: Combined therapy with pegylated IFN‐α2b and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C, infected with hepatitis C virus genotypes 1 and 4, was more effective in treatment‐naïve patients (63.9%) as compared with re‐therapy cases (27.9%). SVR was maintained for at least the next 6 months in all of the patients. The applied treatment has limited efficacy and evokes numerous adverse effects; thus, search for new methods of treatment is mandatory.