Multicenter comparison of PEG-IFN α2a or α2b plus ribavirin for treatment-naïve HCV patient in Korean population

• Published in: BMC gastroenterology 2013-04, Vol.13 (1), p.74-74, Article 74
• Main Authors: Jin, Young-Joo, Lee, Jin-Woo, Lee, Jung Il, Park, Sang Hoon, Park, Choong Kee, Kim, Young Seok, Jeong, Sook-Hyang, Kim, Yun Soo, Kim, Ju Hyun, Hwang, Seong Gyu, Rim, Kyu Sung, Yim, Hyung Joon, Cheong, Jae Youn, Cho, Sung Won, Lee, June Sung, Park, Young Min, Jang, Jeong Won, Lee, Chun Kyon, Sohn, Joo Hyun, Yang, Jin Mo, Han, Seungbong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antiviral Agents - adverse effects; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Hepacivirus - genetics; Hepatitis C, Chronic - drug therapy; Hepatitis C, Chronic - virology; Humans; Interferon-alpha - adverse effects; Interferon-alpha - therapeutic use; Male; Middle Aged; Polyethylene Glycols - adverse effects; Polyethylene Glycols - therapeutic use; Recombinant Proteins - adverse effects; Recombinant Proteins - therapeutic use; Republic of Korea; Retrospective Studies; Ribavirin - therapeutic use; Viral Load
• ISSN: 1471-230X; 1471-230X
• DOI: 10.1186/1471-230X-13-74

Two recent Italian studies suggested that Pegylated-interferon (PEG-IFN) alfa-2a achieves a higher sustained virological response (SVR) rate than PEG-IFN alfa-2b. We intended to compare the efficacy and safety of PEG-IFN alfa-2a with those of PEG-IFN alfa-2b in Korean patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). This retrospective, multi-center trial was conducted on 661 treatment-naïve chronic HCV patients. Patients received PEG-IFN alfa-2a (180 μg/week; n=402) or PEG-IFN alfa-2b (1.5 μg/kg/week; n=259) with ribavirin (800-1200 mg/day) for 24 or 48 weeks according to HCV genotypes. Early virologic response and sustained virologic response (SVR) rates were not significantly different between two PEG-IFN groups both in patients with HCV genotype 1 (all P-values>0.05) and 2/3 (all P-values>0.05). SVR rates were not different between two groups in each categorized baseline characteristics: age (years) (≤ 50 and >50), HCV viral load (IU/mL) (≤ 7 × 10(5) and >7 × 10(5)), and hepatic fibrosis (F0-2 and F3-4) (all P-values >0.05). In additional analysis for 480 patients who sufficiently complied with treatment doses and duration (80/80/80 rule) and propensity-score matched analysis, SVR rates were not different between two groups both in patients with HCV genotype 1 and 2/3 (all P-values >0.05). Adverse event rates were similar between two groups. Unlike the Western data, efficacy and safety of PEG-IFN alfa-2a were similar to those of PEG-IFN alfa-2b in chronically HCV-infected Korean patients regardless of age, HCV viral load, and hepatic fibrosis.