Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2013 May 28;13(5):e10069.
doi: 10.5812/hepatmon.10069. Print 2013 May.

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

Maissa El Raziky  1 , Waleed Fouad Fathalah, Wafaa Ahmed El-Akel, Ahmed Salama, Gamal Esmat, Mahassen Mabrouk, Rabab Mamoun Salama, Hany Mahmoud Khatab
Affiliations

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

Maissa El Raziky et al. Hepat Mon. .

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.

Keywords: Chronic Hepatitis C; Peginterferon-Alpha- 2a; Peginterferon-Alpha- 2b.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Side Effects in Relation to the Type of Treatment
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Interferon Dose Reduction in Relation with the Type of Treatment, P value < 0.01
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Virological Response in Relation to the Type of Treatment
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Viral hepatitis : Report by the Secretariat. 2009; Available from: http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB126/B126_15-en.pdf
    1. Schaefer M, Heinz A, Backmund M. Treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients with drug dependence: time to change the rules? Addiction. 2004;99(9):1167–75. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2004.00821.x. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Global surveillance and control of hepatitis C. Report of a WHO Consultation organized in collaboration with the Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board, Antwerp, Belgium. J Viral Hepat. 1999;6(1):35–47. - PubMed
    1. Darwish MA, Faris R, Darwish N, Shouman A, Gadallah M, El-Sharkawy MS, et al. Hepatitis c and cirrhotic liver disease in the Nile delta of Egypt: a community-based study. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2001;64(3-4):147–53. - PubMed
    1. Ray SC, Arthur RR, Carella A, Bukh J, Thomas DL. Genetic epidemiology of hepatitis C virus throughout egypt. J Infect Dis. 2000;182(3):698–707. doi: 10.1086/315786. - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources