title: Multicenter comparison of PEG-IFN α2a or α2b plus ribavirin for treatment-naïve HCV patient in Korean population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Two recent Italian studies suggested that Pegylated-interferon (PEG-IFN) alfa-2a achieves a higher sustained virological response (SVR) rate than PEG-IFN alfa-2b. We intended to compare the efficacy and safety of PEG-IFN alfa-2a with those of PEG-IFN alfa-2b in Korean patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV).
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective, multi-center trial was conducted on 661 treatment-naïve chronic HCV patients. Patients received PEG-IFN alfa-2a (180 μg/week; n=402) or PEG-IFN alfa-2b (1.5 μg/kg/week; n=259) with ribavirin (800-1200 mg/day) for 24 or 48 weeks according to HCV genotypes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early virologic response and sustained virologic response (SVR) rates were not significantly different between two PEG-IFN groups both in patients with HCV genotype 1 (all P-values>0.05) and 2/3 (all P-values>0.05). SVR rates were not different between two groups in each categorized baseline characteristics: age (years) (≤ 50 and >50), HCV viral load (IU/mL) (≤ 7 × 10(5) and >7 × 10(5)), and hepatic fibrosis (F0-2 and F3-4) (all P-values >0.05). In additional analysis for 480 patients who sufficiently complied with treatment doses and duration (80/80/80 rule) and propensity-score matched analysis, SVR rates were not different between two groups both in patients with HCV genotype 1 and 2/3 (all P-values >0.05). Adverse event rates were similar between two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unlike the Western data, efficacy and safety of PEG-IFN alfa-2a were similar to those of PEG-IFN alfa-2b in chronically HCV-infected Korean patients regardless of age, HCV viral load, and hepatic fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Incheon, South Korea. jin@inha.ac.kr
authors.forename: Young-Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Jin-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jung Il
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Choong Kee
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sook-Hyang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Yun Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ju Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seong Gyu
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Kyu Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Rim
authors.forename: Hyung Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.forename: Jae Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Sung Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: June Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jeong Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Chun Kyon
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Joo Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Jin Mo
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Seungbong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a