Assessment of the efficacy of reducing peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin dose on virologic response in Koreans with chronic hepatitis C
- Authors
- Kwon, Jung Hyun; Bae, Si Hyun; Choi, Jong Young; Yoon, Seung Kew; Byun, Kwan Soo; Paik, Seung Woon; Lim, Young Suk; Lee, Han Chu; Han, Kwang Hyub; Lee, Kwan Sik
- Issue Date
- Sep-2009
- Publisher
- 대한내과학회
- Keywords
- Hepatitis C; Koreans; Peginterferon alfa-2a; Ribavirin
- Citation
- The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine, v.24, no.3, pp 203 - 211
- Pages
- 9
- Indexed
- SCOPUS
KCI
- Journal Title
- The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
- Volume
- 24
- Number
- 3
- Start Page
- 203
- End Page
- 211
- URI
- https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2020.sw.kumedicine/31381
- DOI
- 10.3904/kjim.2009.24.3.203
- ISSN
- 1226-3303
2005-6648
- Abstract
- Background/Aims
The virologic response of Koreans to combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C is similar to westerns; however, dose modification occurs more frequently in Koreans. We evaluated the rates of peginterferon α-2a and ribavirin dose modifications and their effect on the virologic response in Koreans.
Methods
Patients with detectable HCV RNA and enrolled from multicenters were treated with peginterferon α-2a (180 µg/week) and ribavirin (800 mg/day) for 24 weeks (genotype non-1, n=37) or peginterferon α-2a (180 µg/week) and ribavirin (1,000-1,200 mg/day) for 48 weeks (genotype 1, n=55).
Results
Early virologic response (EVR) and sustained virologic response (SVR) were 77.2% (genotype 1, 75%; non-1, 81%) and 66.3% (genotype 1, 56%; non-1, 81%), respectively. The frequency of dose modification was 32.6% within the first 12 weeks and 52.2% during the entire treatment period. No difference was found in SVR regardless of dose modification. However, the SVR for patients using ≥80% of the peginterferon dose was significantly higher than for those using <80% (81.3 vs. 50.0%, p=0.007), despite varying ribavirin doses. No difference was found in SVR regardless of whether the ribavirin dose was <80% or not. These results did not change based on genotype.
Conclusions
We suggest that using at least 80% of the peginterferon α-2a dose in Koreans not only maintains SVR but also reduces drug side effects during the entire treatment period. A lower dose of ribavirin may be as efficacious as a standard dose.
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Collections - 2. Clinical Science > Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology > 1. Journal Articles
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