title: [Effectiveness and complications of combination therapy with interferon alpha and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effectiveness of combination therapy with conventional or pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C is well understood. However, the profound investigation about complications of the treatment has been rarely reported in Korea, where patients have broader spectrum of disease manifestations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and complications of the combination therapy of interferon alpha and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and forty patients with chronic hepatitis C were included. All patients were treated with interferon alpha (3 million units thrice a week) in combination with ribavirin (800-1,200 mg, depending on body weight). Patients were treated for 6 or 12 months according to the genotypes (genotype 1; 12 months, non-1; 6 months). We retrospectively evaluated ETR (end of treatment response) and SVR (sustained virologic response) on the basis of intent-to-treat in patients completing the therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 154 patients who had completed the therapy, ETR was 79.2% and SVR was 61.0%. Multivariate analysis showed that genotype and early virologic response at 3 months of treatment were independent predictive factors of SVR. Due to insufficient response, 11.3% of the patients discontinued the therapy. In addition, 24.5% of the patients prematurely discontinued the therapy due to adverse events including aggravated liver function (15.4%), failure to return (7.9%), and others (1.2%). Dose modifications of interferon alpha or ribavirin were required due to anemia (15.4%), neutropenia (8.8%), or thrombocytopenia (4.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall SVR of patients who had completed the combination therapy with interferon alpha and ribavirin was 61.0%. However, about one third of the patients discontinued the therapy prematurely due to insufficient response, adverse events and/or noncompliance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University College of Medicine, 10 Ami-dong 1-ga, Seo-gu, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Youn
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hae Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kee Tae
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyung Yup
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sun Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chan Won
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Tae Oh
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Gwang Ha
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Dae Hwan
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Geun Am
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Mong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Byung Mann
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin