title: Pattern and associated factors of anti-hepatitis C virus treatment-induced adverse reactions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the pattern and possible risk factors of conventional and/or pegylated interferon alpha (IFN-α) plus ribavirin therapy for causing adverse reactions in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus. Patients attending a referral center in Iran were assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  During an 18 month period all adult individuals diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C virus who planned to receive anti-hepatitis C virus treatment were prospectively screened regarding all related subjective and objective adverse drug reactions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of adverse drug reactions were significantly associated with the number of concomitant medications (p < 0.001), female gender (p = 0.027), increased age (p = 0.001), pegylated IFN-α (p = 0.015) and hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (p = 0.002). History of a prior anti-hepatitis C virus treatment course (OR = 3.081, 95% CI = 1.174 - 6.085; p = 0.022) and the number of co-administered medications (OR = 1.165, 95% CI = 1.034 - 1.314; p = 0.012) were identified as the only statistically significant risk factors for developing anti-hepatitis C virus medication-related psychiatric and dermatologic adverse reactions, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data could be exploited by health-care professionals and policy makers as a guide for developing optimal educational and preventive strategies in the setting of anti-hepatitis C virus medication safety.
authors.affiliation: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy , Postal Code: 1417614411, P.O. Box: 14155/6451, Tehran , IR Iran +98 9122979329 ; +98 2166461178 ; khalilih@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Saeedeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ravi
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasiri-Toosi
authors.forename: Iman
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karimzadeh
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khalili
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahadi-Barzoki
authors.forename: Simin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dashti-Khavidaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin