The Effect of Peginterferon Alpha-2a vs. Peginterferon Alpha-2b in Treatment of Naive Chronic HCV Genotype-4 Patients: A Single Centre Egyptian Study

authors:

avatar Maissa El Raziky 1 , avatar Waleed Fouad Fathalah 1 , * , avatar Wafaa Ahmed El-akel 1 , avatar Ahmed Salama 1 , avatar Gamal Esmat 1 , avatar Mahassen Mabrouk 1 , avatar Rabab Mamoun Salama 1 , avatar Hany Mahmoud Khatab 2

Department of Endemic Medicine and Hepatology, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
Department of Pathology, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
Hepatitis Monthly: Vol.13, issue 5; 10069
published online: May 27, 2013
article type: Research Article
received: January 1, 2013
accepted: April 16, 2013
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5812/hepatmon.10069

how to cite: El Raziky M, Fathalah W F, El-akel W A, Salama A, Esmat G, et al. The Effect of Peginterferon Alpha-2a vs. Peginterferon Alpha-2b in Treatment of Naive Chronic HCV Genotype-4 Patients: A Single Centre Egyptian Study. Hepat Mon. 2013;13(5):10069. https://doi.org/10.5812/hepatmon.10069.

Abstract

Background:

Egypt has one of the highest (16-8%) prevalence rates of HCV infection in the world. Approximately 90% of Egyptian HCV isolates belong to a single subtype (4a), which responds less successfully to interferon therapy than other subtypes. Studies comparing the efficacy and safety of PEGIFN alfa-2a and PEGIFN alfa-2b in treatment-naive HCV-infected patients have shown conflicting results.

Objectives:

assessing the effects of Peginterferon alpha-2a versus Peginterferon alpha-2b on the sustained virological response in naive chronic HCV genotype-4 Egyptian patients.

Patients and Methods:

this retrospective study cohort consists of 3718 chronic HCV patients admitted to a large, Egyptian medical center. 1985 patients had been treated with PEG-IFN alfa-2a plus RBV and 1733 patients with PEG-IFN alfa-2b plus RBV between years 2007-2011. Efficacy outcomes were sustained virologic response (SVR) and treatment discontinuation rates due to serious adverse effects.

Results:

The ETR & SVR in patients treated with PEGIFN alfa-2a was 64.1% and 59.6% as compared to treatment with PEGIFN alfa-2b where these parameters were 58.2% and 53.9% respectively (P < 0.05). Treatment discontinuation rates, were similar in the two types of PEGIFN [0.66 (0.37-1.16); P = 0.15]. Significant dose reduction was evident with peginterferon alfa-2b (35.3%) than peginterferon alpha-2a (27.3 %) (P < 0.01). Patients with lower base line AFP and ALT were most likely to achieve SVR using INF alpha 2-a.

Conclusions:

Peginterferon alpha-2a has a higher efficacy regarding ETR and SVR as compared to Peginterferon alfa-2b in treatment of naive chronic HCV genotype-4 patients.

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