TY - JOUR
T1 - Peginterferon Alfa-2a Plus Ribavirin Is More Effective Than Peginterferon Alfa-2b Plus Ribavirin for Treating Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection
AU - Ascione, Antonio
AU - De Luca, Massimo
AU - Tartaglione, Maria Teresa
AU - Lampasi, Filippo
AU - Di Costanzo, Giovan Giuseppe
AU - Lanza, Alfonso Galeota
AU - Picciotto, Francesco Paolo
AU - Marino-Marsilia, Giuseppina
AU - Fontanella, Luca
AU - Leandro, Gioacchino
PY - 2010/1
Y1 - 2010/1
N2 - Background & Aims: Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are frequently treated with a combination of pegylated interferon (peginterferon) and ribavirin. This study compared the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alfa-2a and peginterferon alfa-2b, each in combination with ribavirin. Methods: A total of 320 consecutive, treatment-naive, HCV RNA-positive patients with chronic hepatitis were randomly assigned to once-weekly peginterferon alfa-2a (180 μg, group A) or peginterferon alfa-2b (1.5 μg/kg, group B) plus ribavirin 1000 mg/day (body weight 500,000 IU/mL (58/84 [69%] vs 43/93 [46.2%]; P = .002). SVR rates in groups A and B were not statistically different among patients with baseline HCV RNA ≤500,000 IU/mL (52/76 [68.4%] vs 44/67 [65.7%]; P = .727) or in patients with cirrhosis (14/33 [42.4%] vs 12/26 [46.1%]; P = .774). Conclusions: In patients with chronic HCV infection, peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin produced a significantly higher SVR rate than peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin.
AB - Background & Aims: Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are frequently treated with a combination of pegylated interferon (peginterferon) and ribavirin. This study compared the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alfa-2a and peginterferon alfa-2b, each in combination with ribavirin. Methods: A total of 320 consecutive, treatment-naive, HCV RNA-positive patients with chronic hepatitis were randomly assigned to once-weekly peginterferon alfa-2a (180 μg, group A) or peginterferon alfa-2b (1.5 μg/kg, group B) plus ribavirin 1000 mg/day (body weight 500,000 IU/mL (58/84 [69%] vs 43/93 [46.2%]; P = .002). SVR rates in groups A and B were not statistically different among patients with baseline HCV RNA ≤500,000 IU/mL (52/76 [68.4%] vs 44/67 [65.7%]; P = .727) or in patients with cirrhosis (14/33 [42.4%] vs 12/26 [46.1%]; P = .774). Conclusions: In patients with chronic HCV infection, peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin produced a significantly higher SVR rate than peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin.
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U2 - 10.1053/j.gastro.2009.10.005
DO - 10.1053/j.gastro.2009.10.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 19852964
AN - SCOPUS:72249094116
VL - 138
SP - 116
EP - 122
JO - Gastroenterology
JF - Gastroenterology
SN - 0016-5085
IS - 1
ER -