title: Highly effective peginterferon α-2a plus ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C in hemophilia in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a major comorbidity in patients with hemophilia. However, there are no published data on the efficacy of antiviral therapy in Korea. We assessed the safety and efficacy of combination therapy with peginterferon α-2a plus ribavirin for CHC in hemophilia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (n=115) were enrolled between March 2007 and December 2008. Seventy-seven patients were genotype 1 or 6, and 38 patients were genotype 2 or 3. We evaluated rapid virologic responses (RVRs), early virologic response (EVRs), end-of-treatment response (ETRs), sustained virologic response (SVRs), and relapses. Safety evaluations included adverse events and laboratory tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven patients were excluded from the study because they had been treated previously. Among the remaining 104 treatment-naïve patients, RVR was achieved in 64 (60.6%), ETR was achieved in 95 (91.3%), and SVR was achieved in 89 (85.6%). Relapse occurred in eight patients (8.9%). Common adverse events were hair loss (56.7%) and headache (51.0%). Common hematologic adverse events were neutropenia (22.1%), anemia (27.9%), and thrombocytopenia (3.8%). However, there were no serious adverse events such as bleeding. RVR was the only predictor of SVR in multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peginterferon α-2a plus ribavirin combination treatment produced a favorable response rate in CHC patients with hemophilia without serious adverse events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrohepatology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Suh Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrohepatology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Woong
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrohepatology, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Youn Jae
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrohepatology, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Korea Hemophilia Foundation Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrohepatology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000209:etiology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a
keywords: Chronic hepatitis C; Hemophilia; Peginterferon; Ribavirin