Pegylated interferon-alpha2b plus ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 4 infection in patients with normal serum ALT

• Published in: Annals of hepatology 2012-03, Vol.11 (2), p.186-193
• Main Authors: Al-Ali, Jaber, Siddique, Iqbal, Varghese, Rosh, Hasan, Fuad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Alanine Transaminase - blood; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Biomarkers; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Genotype; Genotype 4; Hepacivirus - genetics; Hepatitis C virus; Hepatitis C, Chronic - drug therapy; Hepatitis C, Chronic - enzymology; Humans; Interferon-alpha - therapeutic use; Male; Middle Aged; Normal transaminases; Pegylated Interferon; Pilot Projects; Polyethylene Glycols - therapeutic use; Recombinant Proteins - therapeutic use; Ribavirin - therapeutic use; RNA, Viral - blood; Treatment Outcome; Viral Load - drug effects
• ISSN: 1665-2681
• DOI: 10.1016/s1665-2681(19)31023-3

Approximately one-third of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection have persistently normal liver enzymes reflected by a normal serum alanine transaminase (ALT). Data with regards the efficacy and safety of treatment in patients chronically infected with Hepatitis C virus genotype 4 and normal serum ALT are limited. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin combination therapy in this population. Twenty-two patients with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 4 infection were enrolled in an open-labeled, uncontrolled pilot study. All patients had biopsy proven chronic hepatitis and persistently normal serum ALT levels. Patients were treated with subcutaneous peginterferon alfa-2b at a dose of 1.5 µg/kg body weight once per week plus oral ribavirin (15 mg/kg/day) for 48 weeks. Patients were followed for 24 weeks post-treatment. Sixteen patients out of twenty two completed the study (9 [40.9%] females, mean age 43.8 years). The ALT level were normal in all patients, with a mean of 38.6 U/L. Sustained viral response was achieved in 13 patients (59%), 4 patients (18.1%) were non-responders and 2 patients (9%) relapsed while 1 patient had a viral breakthrough during treatment. Two patients (9%) discontinued the treatment because of adverse events. Combination therapy of pegylated interferon-alpha2b and ribavirin is safe and resulted in a sustained virological response in a significant number of patients with chronic Hepatitis C, genotype 4, and persistently normal serum ALT.