title: Treatment of chronic hepatitis C in children with pegylated interferon and ribavirin: the impact of dose.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the last years children with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) have been treated with Pegylated Interferon α (PEG-IFNα) and ribavirin (RBV). Treatment can cause several side effects that require reduction or interruption of therapy. The relationship between dose of PEG-IFNα and response to therapy has not been clearly evaluated. Aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the dose of PEG-IFNα2b and RBV on the efficacy of therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  All children with CHC treated with PEG-IFNα2b and RBV, observed at the Paediatric Liver Unit of University Federico II of Naples from 1996 to 2006 were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen children with CHC treated with combined therapy were enrolled. Seven out of 16 patients (43.7%) achieved rapid virological response; 13/16 patients (81.2%) achieved early virological response; 5/16 patients (31.25%) relapsed; 1 patient resulted non responder. According to percentage of expected dose, our patients were divided into two groups: the first group included 7 patients that performed an overall dosage of PEG-IFNα2b ≥ 75% of the scheduled full dose; the second group included 9 patients that performedm PEG-IFNα2b dose < 75% of scheduled full dose. No difference was noted in terms of sustained virological response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modifications of therapy due to PEG-IFNα-related adverse events are frequent in children with CHC, but dose adjustments do not seem to impair efficacy of therapy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tufano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pia Cicalese
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Immacolata Spagnuolo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Terlizzi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iorio
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000072230:Sustained Virologic Response; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b