title: Pegylated interferon alpha-2a versus standard interferon alpha-2a for treatment-naive dialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C: a randomised study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is prevalent in dialysis patients, and standard interferon monotherapy is the current standard of care for such patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether pegylated interferon has a better therapeutic efficacy and safety profile than standard interferon in dialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 such patients were randomly assigned to receive either pegylated interferon alpha-2a 135 microg subcutaneously once per week or standard interferon alpha-2a 3 million units subcutaneously thrice per week for 24 weeks. The primary efficacy and safety end points were sustained virological response (SVR) by intention-to-treat analysis and treatment-related withdrawal rate during the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In univariate analysis, patients receiving pegylated interferon alpha-2a tended to have a higher sustained virological response (SVR) than those receiving standard interferon alpha-2a (48% vs 20%, p = 0.07). By using multivariate analysis, treatment with pegylated interferon alpha-2a (p = 0.02) and pretreatment HCV RNA level <800 000 IU/ml (p = 0.007) were independently predictive of an SVR. All patients failing to achieve a rapid virological response (RVR) could not achieve an SVR. In addition, patients receiving pegylated interferon alpha-2a had a significantly lower treatment-related withdrawal rate than those receiving standard interferon alpha-2a (0% vs 20%, p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pegylated interferon alpha-2a once weekly provides more effective and safer therapy than standard interferon alpha-2a thrice weekly for treatment-naive dialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: C-H
authors: CH
authors: Liu
authors: C-C
authors: CC
authors: Liang
authors: J-W
authors: JW
authors: Lin
authors: S-I
authors: SI
authors: Chen
authors: H-B
authors: HB
authors: Tsai
authors: C-S
authors: CS
authors: Chang
authors: P-H
authors: PH
authors: Hung
authors: J-H
authors: JH
authors: Kao
authors: C-J
authors: CJ
authors: Liu
authors: M-Y
authors: MY
authors: Lai
authors: J-H
authors: JH
authors: Chen
authors: P-J
authors: PJ
authors: Chen
authors: J-H
authors: JH
authors: Kao
authors: D-S
authors: DS
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; 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 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a