Tolerability and efficacy of pegylated consensus interferon‑α in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C

Ding,Yan‑Hua; Liu,Bin; Zhang,Xin; Sun,Li; Zhang,Hong; Luo,Hua; Sun,Yan‑Fu; Liu,Cheng‑Jiao; Zhang,Qi; Cao,Yu‑Chen; Chen,Hong; Niu,Jun‑Qi

doi:10.3892/etm.2016.3914

Tolerability and efficacy of pegylated consensus interferon‑α in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C

Authors:
- Yan‑Hua Ding
- Bin Liu
- Xin Zhang
- Li Sun
- Hong Zhang
- Hua Luo
- Yan‑Fu Sun
- Cheng‑Jiao Liu
- Qi Zhang
- Yu‑Chen Cao
- Hong Chen
- Jun‑Qi Niu
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Affiliations: Phase One Clinical Trial Ward, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China, Department of Hand Surgery, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China, Chongqing Fujin Biomedical Co., Ltd., Fujin, Heilongjiang 518051, P.R. China, Department of Clinical Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China, Hepatobiliary Medical Ward, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
Published online on: November 18, 2016 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2016.3914
Pages: 9-16
Copyright: © Ding et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

This study aimed to explore and evaluate the tolerability and antiviral activity of pegylated recombinant human consensus interferon‑α (PEG‑CIFN) in adults with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A total of 48 adult subjects chronically infected with HCV were divided into five groups, which were treated separately with PEG‑CIFN 1.0 µg/kg (n=10), 1.5 µg/kg (n=10), 2.0 µg/kg (n=9) or 3.0 µg/kg (n=10), or pegylated IFN α‑2a (Pegasys) 180 µg (n=9) as controls. Symptoms were observed and laboratory results collected to monitor adverse reactions, adjust drug dosage and evaluate tolerability. The thrombocytopenic effects in all PEG‑CIFN dose groups were less than that of pegylated IFN α‑2a (at week 14, P<0.05). The rapid virologic response of the PEG‑CIFN 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 µg/kg groups and the pegylated IFN α‑2a group were significantly higher than that of the PEG‑CIFN 1.0 µg/kg group (P<0.05). Patients who had HCV genotype 1b infections had relatively high responses. The early virologic response of the PEG‑CIFN 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 µg/kg groups and the pegylated IFN α‑2a group were 30, 90, 88.8 and 88.8% respectively. PEG‑CIFN is well tolerated, and was found to have dose‑dependent effectiveness in subjects with chronic hepatitis C. Virological response rates between PEG‑CIFN 1.5 or 2.0 µg/kg, and pegylated IFNα‑2a were similar, and not significantly different. It is concluded that 1.5 µg/kg PEG‑CIFN may be the clinically recommended dose. PEG‑CIFN is superior to pegylated IFN α‑2a in maintaining platelet levels.

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