Disorders of Liver : Peginterferon Alpha 2A And Ribavirin Combination Therapy For Chronic Hepatitis C In Patients With Hemophilia -Preliminary Report-

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Background/Aims: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a major comorbidity in patient with hemophilia. In this prospective study, the efficacy and tolerability of the combination therapy with peginterferon (PegIFN) alpha-2a plus ribavirin was evaluated in 42 hemophiliacs with CHC. Methods: A total of 42 CHC Patients with hemophilia were treated with PegIFN alpha-2a (180 mcg/week) and ribavir in (800-1,200 mg/day) for 24 (genotype 2, N=11) or 48 weeks (genotype 1, N=31). The mean duration of treatment was 24 (6-28) weeks. Rapid virologic response (RVR), early virologic response (EVR) were defined as undetectable HCV RNA 4, 12 week during treatment period. Results: Charateristies of the 42 patient included in this study are shown in the table 1. Only 1 patient (2%) was withdrawn from treatment due to neutropenia with infection. In 41 patients who treated more than 4 weeks, RVR was achieved in 20 patients (9/31, genotype1, 11/11, genotype 2). All 37 patients treated more than 12 weeks achieved EVR. 8 patients with genotype 2 (19%) completed the treatment schedule, and end-of treatment response (ETR) was achieved in all of them. There was no severe event for bleeding. Hematologic adverse events were neutropenia (36%), anemia (7%) and thrombocytopenia (2%). Dose reduction of PegIFN was necessary in 9 patients (21%) (6 neutropenia, 1 thromobocytopenia, 1 fatigue and 1 headache) On the other hand, it was 5 patients (12%) for ribavirin (4 anemia, 1 headache) Observed adverse events are shown in Table 2. Conclusions: PegIFN and ribavirin treatment is effective in CHC patients with hemophilia compared to data previously reported in non-hemophilic patients. In addition, there was no severe adverse event.