doiSerbia

Efficacy and safety of peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin treatment of chronic hepatitis C in the Republic of Serbia

Božić Milena (Klinika za infektivne i tropske bolesti, Klinički centar Srbije, Beograd + Medicinski fakultet, Beograd)
Bojović Ksenija (Klinika za infektivne i tropske bolesti, Klinički centar Srbije, Beograd)
Fabri Milotka (Klinika za infektivne bolesti, Klinički centar Vojvodine, Novi Sad + Medicinski fakultet, Novi Sad)
Nožić Darko (Klinika za infektivne bolesti, Vojnomedicinska akademija, Beograd)
Trkulja Bojan (Predstavništvo Hoffmann-La Roche, Beograd)
Milošević Ivana (Klinika za infektivne i tropske bolesti, Klinički centar Srbije, Beograd + Stomatološki fakultet, Beograd)

Introduction. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the main causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. Pegylated interferon alfa-2a or 2b (PEG IFN alfa-2a or 2b) and ribavirin (RBV) represent a standard treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Sustained virological response (SVR), defined as continued undetectable HCV RNA 24 weeks after completion of treatment, is universally considered as an indicator of treatment efficacy. Objective. The aim of this study was to determine efficacy and safety of PEG IFN alfa-2a and RBV treatment in patients with CHC in Serbia. Methods. One hundred seventy-six patients with CHC were included in this multicenter trial from 8 reference centers in Serbia. The patients were treated with standard PEG IFN alfa- 2a and RBV protocol. We performed the following virological testing: anti-HCV (ELISA), HCV RNK (quantitative PCR), HCV genotype (type-specific PCR), HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc and anti-HIV (ELISA). Histological activity and the degree of fibrosis were determined according to the Metavir scoring system. Potential predictors for achieving SVR were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results. Of the treated patients with CHC 65.9% were male, and 60.2% of them aged over 40 years. Of the treated patients 68.2% had infection over 5 years, 63% had HCV RNA >400.000 IU/mL, 76.1% had HCV G1/4, and 60.1% had a mild to moderate liver fibrosis. SVR was achieved in 78.9% of patients (G1/4 79.1%; G2/3 78.1%). The factors that indicated a poorer efficacy of the treatment were age >40 (p<0.05), high basal viremia (p=0.013), and the reduction of PEG IFN alfa-2a and RBV doses, with interruption of therapy (p<0.001). Of the treated patients 45.9% had adverse affects (G1/4 50.8%; G2/3 29.7%). Conclusion. Treatment of CHC with PEG IFN alfa-2a and RBV was efficient in 78.9% of patients. The safety profile of therapy was satisfactory. Longer therapy increases the possibility of the development of adverse affects. No life-threatening adverse effects were recorded in our patients.

Keywords: chronic hepatitis C, peginterferon alfa-2a, ribavirin, sustained virological response, adverse effects