title: Pegylated-interferon-α(2a) in clinical practice: how to manage patients suffering from side effects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The goal of antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C is to slow or halt the progression of fibrosis and prevent the development of cirrhosis. Accordingly, antiviral treatment is proposed for a large population of patients with chronic hepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The standard-of-care for chronic hepatitis C is the combination of pegylated IFN (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin. The use of these drugs has been correlated with a range of adverse effects, including influenza-like symptoms, hematological changes and neuropsychiatric disturbances. The effects of these adverse events associated with PEG-IFN therapy are manifold and are a major reason why patients decline or stop therapy. This review addresses the screening for adverse event risk factors and guides the patient to success with adherence strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge of the side effects correlated with PEG-IFN is very relevant for clinicians because it can allow them to arrange the best methods for treating these effects and avoid the discontinuation of antiviral treatment. Moreover, the use of new antiviral drugs will considerably shorten treatment periods reducing many of the above-described side effects and, thus, increase adherence to scheduled therapy.
authors.affiliation: University of Palermo, Gastroenterology & Hepatology Unit, Dipartimento Biomedico di Medicina Interna e Specialistica, Piazza delle Cliniche, 2, 90127 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Calvaruso
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.forename: Piero L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Almasio
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054539:Medication Therapy Management; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a