title: Efficacy and tolerability of peginterferon alpha-2a with or without ribavirin in thalassaemia major patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Chronic Care Center, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Adlette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inati
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taher
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghorra
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koussa
authors.forename: Marwan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.forename: Elie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aoun
authors.forename: Ala I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Sharara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007861:Lebanon; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019562:Viral Load; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a