The comparison of the efficacy of pegylated interferon α-2a and α-2b in chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 1

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of treatment with pegylated interferon α-2a (Peg-INFα-2a) versus Peg-INFα-2b, plus ribavirin, in inducing rapid virological response (RVR), early virological response (EVR), end of treatment response (ETR), and sustained virological response (SVR) in chronic hepatitis C. We reviewed 78 chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 1 treated with 48 weeks of Peg-INFα-2a (n=35) and Peg-INFα-2b (n=43), plus ribavirin, between 2008 and 2011. The ETR and SVR of the patients were ascertained by assessing hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA levels at the end of the treatment and after 24 weeks of follow-up after the cessation of treatment. The RVR (31 vs. 26%), EVR (83 vs. 81%), ETR (74 vs. 63%), and SVR (46 vs. 51%) rates were similar for Peg-INFα-2a and Peg-INFα-2b groups. The overall SVR rate for these standard therapies was 48.7%. Multivariate analysis showed that HCV viral load was significantly associated with RVR, EVR, ETR, and SVR inversely (r=-0.25, P<0.05, and r=-0.34, r=-0.53, r=-0.42, P<0.01, respectively). In patients infected with HCV genotype 1, the rates of SVR did not differ significantly between the two available Peg-INF-ribavirin regimens, and HCV viral load was important in RVR, EVR, ETR, and SVR.