Twelve-week treatment of acute hepatitis C virus with pegylated interferon- alpha -2b in injection drug users.
Injection drug use is the leading risk factor for infection with hepatitis C virus, and interferon (IFN) treatment in this context is associated with a poor rate of adherence. In this article, we review our experience with injection drug users with acute hepatitis C who are treated with pegylated IFN- alpha -2b for 12 weeks. Acute hepatitis C was diagnosed according to standardized criteria, and patients were treated with a median dosage of IFN- alpha -2b of 1.33 microg/kg per week. A sustained virological response was achieved in 17 (74%) of 23 patients. A sustained virological response was achieved in 14 (87%) of 16 patients treated with a dosage of >or=1.33 microg/kg per week and in 3 (43%) of 7 patients treated with a lower dosage. Sustained virological response was significantly associated only with a pegylated IFN- alpha -2b dosage >or=1.33 microg/kg per week (P=.022). A 12-week regimen of pegylated IFN to treat injection drug users with hepatitis C has a compliance that is much higher than that reported with a 24-week regimen. Adverse effects are minimal if patients are carefully selected.
Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. francescogiuseppe.derosa@unito.it
Francesco G
FG
De Rosa
Olivia
O
Bargiacchi
Sabrina
S
Audagnotto
Silvia
S
Garazzino
Giuseppe
G
Cariti
Guido
G
Calleri
Olga
O
Lesioba
Stefania
S
Belloro
Riccardo
R
Raiteri
Giovanni
G
Di Perri
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000821:virology*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b