Comparison of Compliance and Efficacy of Pegylated Interferon ?-2a and ?-2b in Adults with Chronic Hepatitis C.

ABSTRACT: This study compares treatment completion rates and outcomes in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients between those aged <60 and ?60 years receiving pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) ?-2a or ?-2b combined with ribavirin. No significant differences were found in treatment completion rates and virological responses between age-stratified patients or between genotype-stratified patients receiving PEG-IFN ?-2a versus PEG-IFN ?-2b. Significantly more patients ?60 years of receiving PEG-IFN ?-2b exhibited an early virological response compared to those receiving PEG-IFN ?-2a (P?=?0.002); for patients <60 years of age, treatment outcomes were similar between the 2 groups. More liver fibrosis was observed in patients with HCV of genotype 1 than in those with genotypes 2 or 3. Mean changes in pre- and post-treatment fibrosis variables (bilirubin, platelet count, liver enzymes, FIB-4, and APRI) in HCV genotype 1 patients were greater in those receiving PEG-IFN ?-2b than in those receiving PEG-IFN ?-2a. Significant differences were not observed between age- and HCV genotype-stratified patients receiving PEG-IFN ?-2a and -?-2b, but ?-2b appears to have a modest efficacy advantage over ?-2b, particularly in male HCV patients ?60 years of age.

SUBMITTER: Hu JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6479237 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature