title: [A study of the relationship between neutropenia and clinical infection risk during treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the correlation between neutropenia (ANC) incidence and infection during treatment with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study of 399 patients treated with peginterferon and ribavirin derived from database of Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University was conducted. The incidence of infections and their relation with ANC were investigated. Potential risk factors for infection were identified by multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During treatment, neutropenia (ANC < 1.50 × 10(9)/L) occurred in 251 patients. Among which, mild neutropenia [ANC: (> 0.75 - < 1.50) × 10(9)/L], moderate neutropenia [ANC: (0.50 - 0.75) × 10(9)/L] and severe neutropenia (ANC < 0.50 × 10(9)/L) occurred in 132 patients, 103 patients and 16 patients, respectively. A total of 80 infections (20.1%) occurred, among which, 14 infections were defined as severe. There was no significant difference in infection rate between patients with and without neutropenia (19.9%, 50/251 vs 20.3%, 50/251; χ(2) = 0.007, P = 0.933). There was no significant difference in infection rate between patients with and without peginterferon dose reduction (21.5%, 31/144 vs 19.2%, 49/255; χ(2) = 0.307, P = 0.580). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the independent factors associated with infection were age (P = 0.021), diabetes (P = 0.004) and cirrhosis (P = 0.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infections during treatment with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C are irrelevant to neutropenia. The independent factors associated with infection are age, diabetes and cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Li-jie
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jian-wu
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yong-hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Bing-zhu
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a