title: Peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C virus infection in children and adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This multi-center study aimed to prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of a genotype-based Pegylated Interferon alfa-2a/Ribavirin therapy in treatment-naïve hepatitis C virus (HCV), positive HCV serology, and quantifiable HCV RNA, infected children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen children with genotypes 2 and 3 patients (group A) were assigned to medication for 24weeks, and 47 children with genotypes 1, 4, 5 and 6 patients (group B) for 48weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early response at week 12 was observed in 83% of group A patients and in 57% of group B patients (p<0.05). End of treatment response was achieved in 94% of patients in group A and in 57% in group B (p<0.001). Sustained virologic response was maintained in 89% of patients in group A and in 57% of patients in group B (p<0.01). Ten patients stopped prematurely the treatment, 2 for serious adverse event (acute hepatitis and thyrotoxicosis), and 8 because of no virologic response at week 24. Peginterferon alfa-2a and Ribavirin dose was adjusted in 15 patients (23%), 11 for neutropenia (17%), and 3 patients (5%), for anemia, respectively. Treatment-related adverse events included fever and flu-like symptoms (54%), irritability-depression-change of mood (34%), vomiting (23%), abdominal pain (38%), loss of appetite (21.5%) and dermatitis (29%). No influence on height growth was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pegylated inteferon alfa-2a and Ribavirin treatment allowed to achieve SVR in 57% of pediatric patients with genotypes 1, 4, 5 and 6, and in 94% of genotypes 2 and 3. These results show an improved SVR as compared to reference series in adults with similar regimen.
authors.affiliation: Université Catholique de Louvain, Cliniques universitaires St Luc, Bruxelles, Belgium. etienne.sokal@uclouvain.be
authors.forename: Etienne M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sokal
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bourgois
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Stéphenne
authors.forename: Themis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Gilda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Porta
authors.forename: Dace
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gardovska
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fischler
authors.forename: Deirdre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; 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; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a