Safety and efficacy of pegylated interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin for the treatment of hepatitis C in patients with thalassemia.
Antiviral treatment of hepatitis C virus in thalassemia has raised concerns of ribavirin-induced hemolysis and increased iron loading. This study examined the change in liver iron concentration, transfusion requirement, virological response, and iron-related toxicities after pegylated interferon alpha-2a/ribavirin treatment in patients with thalassemia. Median transfusions increased by 44%. However, only 29% (4/14) of patients showed an increase of liver iron concentration > 5mg/g dry wt. and overall liver iron remained stable. One of 4 patients with genotype 2 or 3 demonstrated sustained viral response, compared with 50% with genotype 1 (6/12). No patient developed cardiac, liver or endocrine toxicities, although neutropenia occurred in 52%. The molar efficacy of deferoxamine improved with reduction in liver inflammation on biopsy (p=0.001). In conclusion, antiviral treatment is safe if transfusion requirement, iron toxicities and neutropenia are monitored.
Harmatz
Paul
P
Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland, 747 52 Street, Oakland, CA 94609, USA. pharmatz@mail.cho.org
Jonas
Maureen M
MM
Kwiatkowski
Janet L
JL
Wright
Elizabeth C
EC
Fischer
Roland
R
Vichinsky
Elliott
E
Giardina
Patricia J
PJ
Neufeld
Ellis J
EJ
Porter
John
J
Olivieri
Nancy
N
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012449:Safety; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D007501:Iron; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a