Comparison of side-effect profile during standard and pegylated interferon treatment in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients

Aim: To compare the side-effects between the different therapeutic schemes.

Method: 43 CHC patient's data were analyzed, who were treated with alfa-interferon (IFN) and ribavirin (RBV). The mean treatment period was 10,7 months in the standard group and 3,55 months in the pegylated group (by closing the summary).

Results: 32 patients were treated with 3×3 MU IFN-alfa-2a/2b per week and 800 /1000mg RBV per day, the mean age was 46 years. 11 patient's dose was 180/135µg PEG-IFN-alfa-2a or 80–100µg PEG-IFN-alfa-2b per week and 800–1200mg RBV per day, the mean age was 47 years. Frequency of the side-effects (standard vs. PEG): flu-like syndrome (27/32 vs. 8/11); leucopenia (23/32 vs. 7/11); neutropenia (22/32 vs. 8/11); thrombocytopenia (16/32 vs. 6/11); anaemia (16/32 vs. 1/11); low cholesterol level (20/32 vs. 3/11); elevated uric acid level (2/32 vs. 2/11); depression (11/32 vs. 2/11); fatigue, loss of weight (14/32 vs. 2/11). Thyroid dysfunction and liver enzyme elevation was only in the standard group (5/32 and 6/32). We reduced the doses due to neutropenia in two patients in both groups, due to anaemia in four patients in the standard group. We stopped the treatment in 3 cases in the standard and in one case in the PEG-group. We detected sustained viral response in 8/19 in the standard group.

Conclusion: According to the data of literature, in our practice we also found the haematological side-effects frequently during PEG-IFN treatment. In the standard group were the subjective side-effects stronger (depression, fatigue etc.), but objective disorders were also frequent. It's important to follow-up the patients in both groups frequently and to apply standard IFN with short half-time period in patients with cytopenia.