A Comparison of Interferon alpha-2a Plus Ribavirin Combination Therapy with Peginterferon alpha-2a Plus Ribavirin Combination Therapy for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C

Chronic HCV (CHC) infection is an important problem in our country as well as in worldwide. Although peginterferon-alpha (PEG-IFN-alpha) plus ribavirin combination therapy is the standard approach for the treatment of CHC data for the comparison of interferon-u. (IFN-alpha) induction plus ribavirin with standard therapy is not sufficient. The aim of study is to compare PEG-IFN-alpha 2 alpha plus ribavirin combination with IFN-alpha 2 alpha plus ribavirin for treatment of the patients with naive CHC. Forty naive patients with CHC were included to this study. The patients were assigned into two groups. Eighteen patients received IFN-alpha 2 alpha (at a dose of 6 million units (MU) subcutaneously (sc) daily for 4 weeks and then 6 MU three times weekly for 48 weeks) plus ribavirin 1000-1200 mg/day orally for 52 weeks. The other 22 patients received PEG IFN-alpha 2 alpha 180 g sc each week plus ribavirin 1000-1200 mg/day orally for 52 weeks. We evaluated the effects of treatment on virologic parameters and changes in liver histopathology. Three patients in the IFN-alpha 2 alpha group and five patients in the PEG IFN group were excluded from the study due to miscellaneous reasons such as adverse effects of drugs or discordance to treatment protocol. No significant differences were observed at baseline characteristics as gender, body mass index, weight, the degree of necroinflammatory activity fibrosis. HCV viral load, possible transmission routes, liver function tests, hematological parameters and liver histopathology, except age between the two treatment groups. All patients had a history of parenteral exposure as transmission route. Viral genotyping could he studied for 34 patients and genotype 1 b was detected for all of them. No significant differences were determined at rates of early virologic response, end of the treatment response, sustained virologic response, non-response, breakthrough and relaps in both groups. These rates were 93.8%, 80%, 73.3%, 20%, 15.3% and 8.3% in induction group and 90%, 82.4%, 76.5%, 17.6%, 17.6% and 7.1% in PEG IFN group, respectively. The most common adverse events in both groups were influenza-like symptoms as well as gastrointestinal, dermatologic and respiratory symptoms, and psychiatric disorders. The frequency of adverse events was similar in the two treatment groups. In conclusion, the data of the present study suggests that IFN-2 alpha plus ribavirin combination is as effective and safe as PEG IFN-plus ribavirin combination therapy.