Four-week pegylated interferon alpha-2a monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C with genotype 2 and low viral load: a pilot, randomized study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy and advantages of 4-wk pegylated interferon alpha-2a (peg-IFN-alpha 2a) monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C patients with strong predictors of sustained virologic response (SVR).


METHODS
Patients (n = 33) with genotype 2 and low viral load (< 100 KIU/mL), who became HCV RNA negative after 1 wk of IFN treatment, were randomly allocated to receive a 4- or 12-wk treatment course at a ratio of 2:1, respectively, with a subsequent 24-wk follow-up period. Peg-IFN-alpha 2a was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 180 microg or 90 microg once weekly. SVR was defined as absence of serum HCV RNA at the end of the follow-up period.


RESULTS
All patients completed the treatment schedule, and more than half were symptom-free during the treatment. In the 4-wk treatment group, 20 of 22 (91%) patients achieved SVR. Two patients relapsed, but achieved SVR following re-treatment with peg-IFN-alpha 2a alone. In the 12-wk treatment group, 11 of 11 (100%) patients attained SVR.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that a 4-wk course of peg-IFN-alpha 2a monotherapy can achieve a high SVR rate in "IFN-sensitive" patients, without negatively affecting outcome.
Tsubota
Akihito
A
Institute of Clinical Medicine and Research, Jikei University School of Medicine, 163-1 Kashiwa-shita, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8567, Japan. atsubo@jikei.ac.jp
Satoh
Ken-ichi
K
Aizawa
Mashu
M
Takamatsu
Seishi
S
Namiki
Yoshihisa
Y
Ohkusa
Toshifumi
T
Fujise
Kiyotaka
K
Tajiri
Hisao
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a