Efficacy and tolerability of pegylated interferon alpha 2b and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C – A report from a tertiary care center in northern India

Aim: To study the efficacy and tolerability of pegylated interferon-α 2b and ribavirin therapy in a cohort of chronic hepatitis C patients. Methods: In a retrospective analysis pegylated interferon-α 2b 1.5 μg/ kg subcutaneously weekly plus daily ribavirin 800mg for 24 weeks in genotypes 2 and 3 and 1000mg for 48 weeks in genotypes 1 was administered to 32 patients of chronic hepatitis C. The primary end point was the sustained viral response. Drug dosage was modified or temporarily discontinued if anemia or bone marrow suppression developed. Results: Patients were divided into two groups (age< 40 years and ≥40 years). There was no significant difference observed in BMI, SGOT, SGPT, serum albumin and baseline HCV RNA level among the two groups. One way ANOVA test and Post Hoc analysis were done to compare SGOT, SGPT and baseline HCV RNA among the genotypes 1, 2 and 3. However, there were no significant difference could be found. All patients with genotype 2 and 3 achieved end of treatment response (ETR) at 6 months tetreatment, however, only 75% and 81% patients showed sustained virological response (SVR). In genotype 1, only 66% patients showed ETR at 1 year of treatment and 50% achieved SVR. Conclusion: Treatment was well tolerated; temporary dose modification was required in 6 patients.