Lurie, Y;
Rouzier-Panis, R;
Webster, GJM;
Dusheiko, GM;
Laughlin, M;
Jackson, ML;
Oren, R;
(2005)
Optimal dosing frequency of pegylated interferon alfa-2b monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol
, 3
(6)
pp. 610-615.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Pegylated interferon alfa-2b (PEG-IFN-alfa 2b ) has been shown to provide superior efficacy to IFN-alfa 2b in patients with chronic hepatitis C (predominantly genotype 1) infection as measured by viral clearance. This study was conducted to determine the optimal dosing regimen of PEG-IFN-alfa 2b required to obtain a maximum decrease of hepatitis C viral RNA. METHODS: This was a 24-week, open-label, multicenter, parallel-group, randomized, active-controlled trial in the United Kingdom, France, and Israel. Individuals (n = 61) with chronic hepatitis C infection, genotype 1, received IFN-alfa 2b 3 mIU 3 times weekly for 24 weeks, or PEG-IFN-alfa 2b 1.5 or 3.0 microg/kg/wk, as total weekly full or split doses, for 12 weeks. At week 12, serum RNA titer was measured, and all PEG-IFN-alfa 2b patients continued with 1.5 microg/kg/wk for a further 12 weeks. RESULTS: Mean serum hepatitis C RNA levels decreased in all groups at weeks 12 and 24. PEG-IFN-alfa 2b 1.5 microg/kg/wk was superior to IFN-alfa 2b in decreasing mean serum hepatitis C RNA ( P < .05 at week 12). The efficacy of split-dose PEG-IFN-alfa 2b 1.5 or 3.0 microg/kg/wk regimens was not significantly different from full-dose PEG-IFN-alfa 2b 1.5 microg/kg/wk. However, there was a significant decrease in neutrophil count in groups receiving PEG-IFN-alfa 2b 3.0 microg/kg/wk or lower, multiple-dose per week regimens. CONCLUSIONS: PEG-IFN-alfa 2b 1.5 microg/kg once weekly is the optimal dosing frequency for patients with chronic hepatitis C with predominantly genotype 1 infection. More frequent dosing or increasing the dose to 3.0 microg/kg/wk did not result in improved antiviral effects, but did decrease neutrophil counts.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Optimal dosing frequency of pegylated interferon alfa-2b monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection. |
| Location: | United States |
| Keywords: | Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Antiviral Agents, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Female, Follow-Up Studies, France, Genotype, Hepacivirus, Hepatitis C, Chronic, Humans, Interferon-alpha, Israel, Male, Middle Aged, Polyethylene Glycols, RNA, Viral, Recombinant Proteins, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Safety, Treatment Outcome, United Kingdom, Virulence |
| UCL classification: | UCL > Office of the President and Provost UCL > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences |
| URI: | http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/40558 |
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