Treating chronic hepatitis C with pegylated interferon alfa‐2a (40 KD) and ribavirin in clinical practice

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Abstract
Summary: Background: Pegylated interferon alfa‐2a (40 KD) plus ribavirin therapy induces sustained virological response rates up to 63% in randomized‐controlled trials.Aim: To conduct a prospective open‐label programme to examine the efficacy and safety of this therapy in routine clinical practice.Methods: Treatment‐naive patients with chronic hepatitis C received, at the discretion of the investigator, pegylated interferon alfa‐2a 180 μg/week + ribavirin 800 mg/day for 24 or 48 weeks. In total, 508 patients were enrolled [334 non‐cirrhotic; 174 cirrhotic (defined as stage F3 and F4)].Results: In genotype 1 patients treated for 48 weeks, sustained virological response rates were 41% in non‐cirrhotics and 34% in cirrhotics. Sustained virological response rates in genotype 2 or 3 non‐cirrhotics were 79% (24 weeks) and 72% (48 weeks). Corresponding values for cirrhotic genotype 2/3 were 66% and 44%. The negative predictive value of an early virological response at week 12 was 94%. Predictive factors for sustained virological response on multivariate analysis were genotype (2/3 vs. 1), low viral load and degree of fibrosis. Rates of serious adverse events (≤5%) and adverse events inducing withdrawal (≤8%) were comparable with the phase III trials.Conclusion: Efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon alfa‐2a + ribavirin in clinical practice is comparable with results of randomized‐controlled trials.