Safety and Efficacy of Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a for the Treatment of Hepatitis C in Patients with Major Thalassemia
Journal Title: Iranian Journal of Blood and Cancer - Year 2009, Vol 1, Issue 4
Abstract
Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common transfusion transmitted disease in poly-transfused patients worldwide. In this study we aimed to evaluate the effects of pegylated interferon alfa-2a (PEG-IFN A-2a) in reducing serum ALT and eradicating serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in HCV infected polytransfused thalassemic patients. Materials and Methods: A cohort of 51 HCV-RNA positive thalassemic patients were enrolled to our study and received 180 µg PEG-IFN A-2a once-weekly for 48 weeks. The primary end point was sustained virological response (SVR). The secondary outcome was normalization of ALT. Patient safety was assured by monthly, and if needed, weekly laboratory assessment and visits. Results: Of 52 patients, 42 participants completed the treatment schedule. A sustained virological response (SVR) was attained in 22/51 (43%) cases. Among non-responders or relapsers to previous HCV antiviral therapy, 9/27 (33%) attained an SVR. Five patients died during treatment and 3 subjects discontinued the therapy because of adverse effects. Adverse events were generally mild, and laboratory abnormalities were rare. Conclusion: A course of 48-week PEG-IFN A-2a monotherapy is effective in eradicating HCV-RNA during treatment. But about one third of thalassemic patients would relapse within 6 months of treatment schedule completion, in whom combination therapy is needed.
Authors and Affiliations
Seyed-Moayed Alavian, Hassan Abolghasemi, Seyyed Mohammad Miri, Maryam Keshvari, Pegah Karimi Elizee, Bita Behnava, Seyed Vahid Tabatabaei, Bashir Hajibeigi, Kamran Bagheri Lankarani
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP382882
- DOI -
- Views 93
- Downloads 0
Blood Pressure of Children and Adolescents with Sickle Cell Anemia in Basra, Iraq
Background: Blood pressure in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) is influenced by autonomic cardiovascular dysfunction, endocrinopathies, nephropathy and nutritional factors. We aimed to evaluate systemic and diastol...
The First Discrete Choice Experiment On Usage of Bypassing Agents in Hemophilic Patients in Iran
Background: Bleeding events in hemophilic patients with inhibitors are managed by bypassing agents. Currently available agents in Iran are recombinant activated factor VII (rfVIIa; Aryogen, Aryoseven) and Feiba (factor e...
Hydroxyurea Can Reduce or Eliminate Transfusion Requirements in Children with Major and Intermediate Thalassemia
Background: Hydroxyurea (HU) is a well known chemotherapeutic agent that has been used largely for various myeloproliferative diseases over the past 20 years. In β-thalassemia, the effect of HU is much less clear and rem...
Very late recurrence of gastric cancer with bone mar-row anemia as a stem cell disease: a lesson for future
This article has no abstract.
Molecular Characterization of the Factor IX Gene in 28 Iranian Hemophilia B Patients
Background: Heterogeneous mutations in the human coagulation factor IX gene lead to an X-linked recessive bleeding disorder known as hemophilia B. The disease is distributed worldwide with no ethnic or geographical prior...