title: Duration of peginterferon therapy in acute hepatitis C: a randomized trial.
abstract: Spontaneous resolution of acute hepatitis C virus infection cannot be predicted, and chronic evolution of the disease occurs in a majority of cases. To assess the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alpha-2b administered for 8, 12, or 24 weeks in patients with acute hepatitis C virus infection a total of 161 patients were identified with acute hepatitis C virus infection. Of these, 30 patients refused treatment but were retained in the study as a nonrandomized comparison group. Of the 131 patients who consented to treatment, 29 patients spontaneously resolved, leaving 102 patients randomly assigned to peginterferon alpha-2b (1.5 microg/kg) for 8 weeks (group A; n=34), 12 weeks (group B; n=34), and 24 weeks (group C; n=34). The primary end point was sustained virologic response. An intent-to-treat analysis was used for efficacy and safety end points. Sustained virologic response was achieved in 23/34 (67.6%), 28/34 (82.4%), and 31/34 (91.2%) of patients in groups A, B, and C, respectively; all had undetectable hepatitis C virus RNA 48 weeks after the end of therapy. Treatment for 8 or 12 weeks was effective in genotypes 2, 3, and 4, whereas genotype 1 required 24 weeks of therapy. The 8- and 12-week regimens were associated with fewer adverse events compared with the 24-week regimen. In conclusion, peginterferon alpha-2b effectively induces high sustained virologic response rates in patients with acute hepatitis C virus infection, thus preventing development of chronic hepatitis C. Duration of treatment should be further optimized based on genotype and rapid virologic response at week 4.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Sanaa.Kamal@link.net
authors.forename: Sanaa M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.forename: Khairy N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Moustafa
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fehr
authors.forename: Azza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdel Moneim
authors.forename: Khalifa E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Khalifa
authors.forename: Leila A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: El Gohary
authors.forename: Amr H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ramy
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Madwar
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rasenack
authors.forename: Nezam H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Afdhal
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b