title: [Effectiveness of peginterferon alpha-2a or -2b plus ribavirin in naïve patients with hepatitis C infection].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment of hepatitis C is based on the combination of peginterferon alfa-2a or -2b plus ribavirin; the more effective peginterferon for this purpose has not been established. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of hepatitis C treatment according to the type of peginterferon used.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort study was performed from November 2002 to May 2004, with up to 12 months of follow-up in all patients after completion of treatment. The study included naïve monoinfected patients, divided into two groups: Group A: peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin and Group B: peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin. The main variables studied were plasma glutamate pyruvate transferase levels (biochemical response), viral load (virologic response), and treatment effectiveness (biochemical and virologic response).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 202 patients were studied (Group A: 87; Group B: 115), there were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups. Sustained biochemical response: 75.8% vs. 76.2% (P = .908); Sustained virological response: 71.3% vs. 64.3% (P = .293); Effectiveness of treatment: 64.2% vs. 60.87% (P = .628).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No differences in the sustained virological or biochemical response were found between groups receiving peginterferon alfa-2a or peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin, suggesting that the two types of peginterferon alfa are similarly effective for treating hepatitis C in monoinfected patients.
authors: Servicio de Farmacia, Hospital Universitario Dr Peset, Valencia, Spain. marquez_juapei@gva.es
authors: Juan Francisco
authors: JF
authors: Márquez-Peiró
authors: Victoria Eugenia
authors: VE
authors: Valero-Alcocer
authors: María Manuela del Mar
authors: MM
authors: Morales-Suárez-Varela
authors: Agustín
authors: A
authors: Llopis-González
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Pérez-Peiró
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a