title: [Effects of pegylated interferon and ribavirin in Korean patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon (peginterferon) plus ribavirin and identified the predictors of a sustained virologic response (SVR) in Korean patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 192 patients with chronic hepatitis C, treated with both peginterferon (n=141) or conventional interferon (n=51) and ribavirin, were analyzed retrospectively. Peginterferon alfa-2a (180 microgram/week) or -2b (1.5 microgram/kg/week) or interferon alfa-2a (3 MIU thrice weekly) was administered in combination with ribavirin at 1,000-1,200 mg/day for 48 weeks for genotype 1 and at 800 mg/day for 24 weeks for genotypes 2 and 3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall SVR rate was 80.9% (114/141) in the peginterferon group and 52.9% (27/51) in the interferon group (P=0.0001). The SVR rate in genotype 1 was 69.5% (41/59) in the peginterferon group and 31.6% (6/19) in the interferon group (P=0.0033), whereas in genotype 2 or 3 it was 89.0% (73/82) in the peginterferon group and 65.6% (21/32) in the interferon group (P=0.0032). The predictors of SVR in the peginterferon group were genotype, absence of cirrhosis, and early virologic response (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Korean patients with chronic hepatitis C, a regimen of peginterferon and ribavirin was more effective than a regimen of conventional interferon and ribavirin. This result is comparable to those from studies on Western patients as an initial treatment for chronic hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal medicine, Inje University College of Medicine, Paik Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Myoung Joo
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Eun Uk
authors.initials: EU
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Sang Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Ji Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Eun Taek
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Youn Jae
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Hyuk
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Seol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a