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Efficacy and tolerability of peginterferon alpha‐2a with or without ribavirin in thalassaemia major patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection
Author(s) -
Inati Adlette,
Taher Ali,
Ghorra Sandy,
Koussa Suzanne,
Taha Marwan,
Aoun Elie,
Sharara Ala I.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2005.05645.x
Subject(s) - ribavirin , medicine , tolerability , gastroenterology , chronic hepatitis , hepatitis c virus , peginterferon alfa 2a , virus , virology , adverse effect
Summary 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.