title: Peg-interfon alpha-2a and low-dose ribavirin for treatment of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with sickle-cell anemia in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Data regarding the safety and efficacy of antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) in patients with sickle-cell disease (SCD) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are scanty. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of antiviral therapy with PEG-IFN and low-dose RBV in patients with SCD and chronic HCV infection receiving hydroxyurea in Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective interventional study conducted between January 2009 and September 2012 at the outpatient departments of Haematology and Hepatology/Gastroenterology of a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 8 treatment-naive patients (5 males, 63%) with chronic hepatitis C and SCD receiving hydroxyurea who were treated with PEG-IFN alpha-2a (180 micro g weekly) and low-dose RBV (200 mg daily). Early virological response (EVR) and sustained virological response (SVR) rates were assessed in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were infected with HCV genotype 1 (n=6.8%) or 4 (n=22%). EVR was obtained in 3 patients (38%) and SVR in 6 patients (7%). During the study, there was no increase in the number of blood units transfused and emergency visits due to painful crises.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  in Saudi Arabian patients with SCD and chronic HCV infection on hydroxyurea, PEG-IFN and low-dose RBV treatment proved to be efficacious and safe.
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agha
authors.forename: Rafaat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chakik
authors.forename: Mamdouh M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abdulhadi Ali
authors.forename: Dib
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alsaudi
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sammito
authors.affiliation: Prof. Edoardo Giovanni Giannini, Department of Internal Medicine,, Gastroenterology Unit,, Viale Benedetto XV,, No. 6, Genova 16146,, Italy ., T: +390103537950, F: +390103538638, egiannini@unige.it.
authors.forename: Edoardo Giovanni
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Giannini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a; D006918:Hydroxyurea