title: [Antiviral/immunomodulatory combination therapy: pegylated interferon alpha 2a and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can progress to liver cirrhosis that causes bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, liver failure and primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Use of standard therapeutic option consists of recombinant pegylated interferon alpha 2a/b with ribavirin in order to eradicate virus and prevent complications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of investigation was to evaluate efficiency of combination therapy (pegylated interferon alpha 2a/b plus ribavirin) in patients with chronic HCV infection and to estimate predictive factors for successful treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 387 patients with confirmed diagnosis of hepatitis C were evaluated (aged 18-65 years of both genders). Patients were treated with pegylated interferon alpha 2a/b and ribavirin according to a standard regimen lasting 24 or 48 weeks, dependent on virus genotype.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Negative HCV RNA (PCR assay) was recorded in 79.7% of patients at the end of treatment. Six months after completed therapy, negative HCV RNA, i.e. stained virologic response (SVR) was assessed in 70.5% of patients. Statistical summary of our results concerning SVR confirmed better efficiency of combination therapy for the following parameters compared to other investigated variables: age < or = 40 (84.3% vs. 59.1%; p < 0.0005), absence of cirrhosis (75.6% vs. 58.3%; p = 0.003), lack of genotype 1 (86.6% vs. 61.8%; p < 0.0005), and in patients who received full doses of pegylated interferon alpha 2a (78.3% vs. 63.3%; p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combination therapy of recombinant pegylated interferon alpha 2a with ribavirin leads to SVR in the majority of treated patients (70.5%). Successful treatment depends on a variety of host and virus factors.
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Delić
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mitrović
authors.forename: Nataša
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Popović
authors.forename: Aleksandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urošević
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pešiċ
authors.forename: Jasmina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simonoviċ
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a