title: Efficacy of peg-interferon-α-2a plus ribavirin for patients aged 60 years and older with chronic hepatitis C in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of combination therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for treating chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients aged 60 years and older.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 314 CHC patients, who were treated with combination therapy, were classified into three groups according to age: (i) younger than 50 years (n = 137); (ii) 50-59 years (n = 109); and (iii) 60 years or older (n = 68). The sustained virological response (SVR) and discontinuation rates were compared between the three groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Discontinuation of therapy due to adverse event was more frequent in the older patient groups: 1%, 5%, and 10% for the < 50-year, the 50-59-year, and the ≥ 60-year patient groups, respectively (P = 0.018). However, the older patient groups showed a SVR rate that was comparable to the SVR rates of the other age groups: 80%, 73%, and 75% for the < 50-year, 50-59-year, and ≥ 60-year- patient groups, respectively (P = 0.420). A multivariate analysis showed that the aspartate aminotransferase : platelet ratio index (APRI) was an independent predictor of an SVR. An SVR was achieved in 95% (19/20) of the elderly patients with an APRI < 0.80.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although physicians must pay more attention to adverse events in the older patients, combination therapy can be considered for older patients, especially for patients with a low APRI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Armed Forces Capital Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Sinn
authors.forename: Su Rin
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jae Sook
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kil
authors.forename: Jeong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Geum-Youn
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Gwak
authors.forename: Moon Seok
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Joon Hyeok
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang Cheol
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Seung Woon
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Paik
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044466:Asian People; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007723:Korea; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018579:Patient Selection; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a