title: Efficacy of pegylated interferon-alpha-2a plus ribavirin for patients aged at least 60 years with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In China, patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated liver disease are getting older, and thus the number of deaths due to such disease is increasing. The efficacy of combination therapy with ribavirin and interferon for chronic HCV infection in elderly patients has not been fully clarified. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the combination therapy in the elderly patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight chronic hepatitis C patients, who received the combination therapy, were classified into two age groups: elderly group ((3)60 years, n = 25) and non-elderly group (< 60 years, n = 43). Rapid virological response, complete early virological response, sustained virological response, relapse, non-response rate, and safety were compared between the elderly group and non-elderly group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall sustained virological response was lower in the elderly group than non-elderly group (44% vs. 75%, P = 0.012, OR = 0.270, and 95%CI 0.095 - 0.768). Among patients with HCV genotype 1, sustained virological response was lower in the elderly group than non-elderly group (45% vs. 77%, P = 0.015, OR = 0.247, 95%CI 0.078 - 0.781). The proportions of dose reduction due to laboratory abnormalities were significantly higher in the elderly group than non-elderly group (60.0% vs. 32.6%, P = 0.027). Multiple binary Logistic regression analysis confirmed that patient age was an associated factor for sustained virological response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among patients with HCV genotype 1, the elderly patients had lower sustained virological response than non-elderly patients during pegylated interferon-alpha-2a plus ribavirin combination therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Ying-Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xiao-Hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Li-Feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: Hai-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Chi-Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiao-Yuan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Lai
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a