Efficacy of reduction therapy of natural human β-interferon and ribavirin in elderly patients with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 2 and high virus load.

Abstract

AIM:

  To evaluate the efficacy of natural human interferon (IFN)-β and ribavirin in elderly patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 and high virus load.

METHODS:

  Inclusion criteria were age of 65 years or older, HCV genotype 2 and serum HCV RNA level of 5.0 logIU/mL or more. A total of 33 were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. IFN-β was administrated i.v. at a dose of 6 million units daily for 4 weeks initially, followed by three times a week for 20 weeks. Ribavirin was given daily for 24 weeks at the dose described based on bodyweight. Fifteen patients were given a standard dose of ribavirin (standard group). Eighteen patients were given a reduction dose of ribavirin that decreased by one tablet per day compared to the standard group (reduction group).

RESULTS:

  Of the 33 study patients, no patient stopped the treatment due to treatment-related adverse events. The dose of IFN-β was reduced in three patients: Two patients belonged to the standard group and one patient belonged to the reduction group. The dose of ribavirin was reduced in 11 patients during combination therapy: nine patients belonged to the standard group and two patients belonged to the reduction group. The sustained virological response (SVR) was 72.2% (13/18) in the reduction group and 80.0% (12/15) in the standard group. There was no significant difference in SVR rate between the reduction and standard groups (P = 0.699).

CONCLUSION:

  The reduction therapy of IFN-β and ribavirin in elderly chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 2 and high virus load is one selection of treatment.

• Authors: Yasuji Arase, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Fumitaka Suzuki, Norio Akuta, Hitomi Sezaki, Yusuke Kawamura, Masahiro Kobayashi, Norihiro Imai, Yuya Seko, Tetsuya Hosaka, Naoki Matsumoto, Satoshi Saito, Kenji Ikeda, Mariko Kobayashi, Hiromitsu Kumada
• Journal: Hepatology research : the official journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology (Hepatol Res) Vol. 42 Issue 8 Pg. 750-6 (Aug 2012) ISSN: 1872-034X [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 22776551 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2012 The Japan Society of Hepatology.