Prospective study of short-term peginterferon-á-2a monotherapy in patients who had a virological res

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Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 23 (4) , 541-545

doi:10.1111/j.1440-1746.2008.05356.x

Abstract

HEPATOLOGY

Prospective study of short-term peginterferon-á-2a monotherapy in patients who

had a virological response at 2 weeks after initiation of interferon therapy

Soocheol Jeong,**Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Hiroshima

University, Yoshiiku Kawakami,**Department of Medicine and Molecular Science,

Hiroshima University, Dr Yoshiiku Kawakami, Department of Medicine and Molecular

Science, Division of Frontier Medical Science, Programs for Biomedical Research,

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3, Kasumi,

Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan. Email: kamy4419@... Mikiya

Kitamoto,??Department of Internal Medicine, Prefectural Hiroshima Hospital,

Hiroto Ishihara,??Department of Internal Medicine, Chuden Hospital, Keiji

Tsuji,§§Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima City Asa Hospital, Shiomi

Aimitsu,??Second Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima Red Cross and Atomic

Bomb Survivors' Hospital, Hiroiku Kawakami,****Kawakami Clinic, Hiroshima, Japan

Kiminori Uka,**Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Hiroshima

University, Shintaro Takaki,**Department of Medicine and Molecular Science,

Hiroshima University, Hideaki Kodama,**Department of Medicine and Molecular

Science, Hiroshima University, Koji Waki,**Department of Medicine and Molecular

Science, Hiroshima University, Michio Imamura,**Department of Medicine and

Molecular Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshi Aikata,**Department of Medicine

and Molecular Science, Hiroshima University, Shoichi Takahashi**Department of

Medicine and Molecular Science, Hiroshima University, and Kazuaki

ma**Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Hiroshima University,

*Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Hiroshima University, ?Department

of Internal Medicine, Prefectural Hiroshima Hospital, ?Department of Internal

Medicine, Chuden Hospital, §Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima City Asa

Hospital, ?Second Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima Red Cross and

Atomic Bomb Survivors' Hospital, **Kawakami Clinic, Hiroshima, Japan

Dr Yoshiiku Kawakami, Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Division of

Frontier Medical Science, Programs for Biomedical Research, Graduate School of

Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima

734-8551, Japan. Email: kamy4419@...

Abstract

Background and Aims: Long-term interferon (IFN) therapy is effective in

eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, it carries the risk of adverse

effects and reduced quality of life. To assess whether short-term IFN therapy

effectively eliminates HCV, we performed a prospective pilot study of pegylated

(peg)IFN-á-2a therapy for 8 or 24 weeks.

Methods: After excluding patients with high titers of genotype-1, 55 HCV

patients received pegIFN-á-2a. Patients who became negative for HCV-RNA at week

2 were allocated to either an 8-week (n = 19) or 24-week (n = 15) course of IFN.

We evaluated the efficacy of and tolerance to IFN therapy.

Results: The sustained virological response rate was excellent in the two groups

(8 weeks, 89.5% [17/19]; 24 weeks, 100% [15/15], respectively,). IFN dose

reduction was required in one patient of the 8-week group, but in six patients

of the 24-week group (P = 0.028). Treatment was completed by all patients of the

8-week group, but discontinued in five patients of the 24-week group (P =

0.011).

Conclusions: The 8-week IFN therapy is more tolerable than the 24-week therapy

and had similar outcomes. Excluding the patients with high titers of genotype-1,

we recommend switching to an 8-week course of pegIFN-á monotherapy once patients

show an ultra rapid virological response at week 2 from the start of IFN

therapy.

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1440-1746.2008.05356.x

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[Guest guest]

Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 23 (4) , 541-545

doi:10.1111/j.1440-1746.2008.05356.x

Abstract

HEPATOLOGY

Prospective study of short-term peginterferon-á-2a monotherapy in patients who

had a virological response at 2 weeks after initiation of interferon therapy

Soocheol Jeong,**Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Hiroshima

University, Yoshiiku Kawakami,**Department of Medicine and Molecular Science,

Hiroshima University, Dr Yoshiiku Kawakami, Department of Medicine and Molecular

Science, Division of Frontier Medical Science, Programs for Biomedical Research,

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3, Kasumi,

Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan. Email: kamy4419@... Mikiya

Kitamoto,??Department of Internal Medicine, Prefectural Hiroshima Hospital,

Hiroto Ishihara,??Department of Internal Medicine, Chuden Hospital, Keiji

Tsuji,§§Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima City Asa Hospital, Shiomi

Aimitsu,??Second Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima Red Cross and Atomic

Bomb Survivors' Hospital, Hiroiku Kawakami,****Kawakami Clinic, Hiroshima, Japan

Kiminori Uka,**Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Hiroshima

University, Shintaro Takaki,**Department of Medicine and Molecular Science,

Hiroshima University, Hideaki Kodama,**Department of Medicine and Molecular

Science, Hiroshima University, Koji Waki,**Department of Medicine and Molecular

Science, Hiroshima University, Michio Imamura,**Department of Medicine and

Molecular Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshi Aikata,**Department of Medicine

and Molecular Science, Hiroshima University, Shoichi Takahashi**Department of

Medicine and Molecular Science, Hiroshima University, and Kazuaki

ma**Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Hiroshima University,

*Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Hiroshima University, ?Department

of Internal Medicine, Prefectural Hiroshima Hospital, ?Department of Internal

Medicine, Chuden Hospital, §Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima City Asa

Hospital, ?Second Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima Red Cross and

Atomic Bomb Survivors' Hospital, **Kawakami Clinic, Hiroshima, Japan

Dr Yoshiiku Kawakami, Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Division of

Frontier Medical Science, Programs for Biomedical Research, Graduate School of

Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima

734-8551, Japan. Email: kamy4419@...

Abstract

Background and Aims: Long-term interferon (IFN) therapy is effective in

eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, it carries the risk of adverse

effects and reduced quality of life. To assess whether short-term IFN therapy

effectively eliminates HCV, we performed a prospective pilot study of pegylated

(peg)IFN-á-2a therapy for 8 or 24 weeks.

Methods: After excluding patients with high titers of genotype-1, 55 HCV

patients received pegIFN-á-2a. Patients who became negative for HCV-RNA at week

2 were allocated to either an 8-week (n = 19) or 24-week (n = 15) course of IFN.

We evaluated the efficacy of and tolerance to IFN therapy.

Results: The sustained virological response rate was excellent in the two groups

(8 weeks, 89.5% [17/19]; 24 weeks, 100% [15/15], respectively,). IFN dose

reduction was required in one patient of the 8-week group, but in six patients

of the 24-week group (P = 0.028). Treatment was completed by all patients of the

8-week group, but discontinued in five patients of the 24-week group (P =

0.011).

Conclusions: The 8-week IFN therapy is more tolerable than the 24-week therapy

and had similar outcomes. Excluding the patients with high titers of genotype-1,

we recommend switching to an 8-week course of pegIFN-á monotherapy once patients

show an ultra rapid virological response at week 2 from the start of IFN

therapy.

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1440-1746.2008.05356.x

_________________________________________________________________

Get in touch in an instant. Get Windows Live Messenger now.

http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_get\

intouch_042008