title: Comparison of low-dose pegylated interferon versus standard high-dose pegylated interferon in combination with ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C with genotype 3: an Indian experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with genotype 3, therapy with pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) alfa-2b in a dose of 1.5 mug/kg/week and ribavirin (800-1000 mg/day) is recommended for 24 weeks. Reduced doses of peg-IFN may increase compliance and decrease cost and adverse events. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of two different regimens of peg-IFN alfa-2b, in combination with ribavirin, in genotype 3 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 103 liver biopsy-proven chronic HCV patients with genotype 3, having alanine aminotransferase levels >1.2 x ULN and positive HCV-RNA were randomized into two groups: group I (n = 76; age, 43.1 +/- 11.4 years; male/female, 67/9) received peg-IFN 1.0 mug/kg/week + ribavirin 10.6 mg/kg/day, while group II (n = 27; age, 37.3 +/- 11.6 years; male/female, 21/6) received peg-IFN 1.5 microg/kg/week + ribavirin 10.6 mg/kg/day. Patients in both groups were treated for 24 weeks. End of treatment viral response (ETVR) and sustained viral response (SVR) after a 6-month follow-up period were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both groups I and II, one patient was lost to follow-up, while one patient in group II withdrew due to side-effects. ETVR was seen in 72/76 (94.7%) of patients in the low dose group and 24/27 (88.9%) of patients in the high dose group (P = 0.375). SVR was seen in 60/76 (78.9%) of patients in the low dose group and 25/27 (92.6%) of patients in the high dose group (P = 0.145). Age (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.263; P = 0.008) and fibrosis (correlation coefficient, 0.263; P = 0.008) showed a significant correlation with the SVR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with genotype 3, peg-IFN at 1.0 microg/kg/week with ribavirin is as effective as peg-IFN at 1.5 mug/kg/week with ribavirin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, India.
authors.forename: Ajit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sood
authors.forename: Vandana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Midha
authors.forename: Syed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hissar
authors.forename: Manoj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Pothakamuri V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Suneetha
authors.forename: Manu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sood
authors.forename: Puja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sakhuja
authors.forename: Shiv K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sarin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b