title: Interferon and ribavirin as frontline treatment for chronic hepatitis C infection in thalassaemia major.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common in transfusion-dependent thalassaemia. The clinical usefulness of 12-month treatment, using interferon alpha 3 MIU/m2 thrice weekly and oral ribavirin 16 mg/kg/d, was evaluated in 18 previously untreated thalassaemia patients. The median age at start of treatment was 16 years (range 7-29). Fourteen were infected with genotype 1b and 4 with genotype 6a. The sustained biochemical and virological response rates 6 months after stopping treatment were both 72.2%. Blood consumption was temporarily increased by 30% due to ribavirin-associated haemolysis. This study demonstrated a high, sustained response rate to combination treatment despite infection with genotype 1b.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Paediatrics and Microbiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. ckli@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Chi Kong
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Paul K S
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Siu Cheung
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Shau Yin
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin