Background/Aims
We assessed the efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon (peginterferon) plus ribavirin
and identified the predictors of a sustained virologic response (SVR) in Korean patients with chronic
hepatitis C virus infection. Methods: A total of 192 patients with chronic hepatitis C, treated with both
peginterferon (n=141) or conventional interferon (n=51) and ribavirin, were analyzed retrospectively. Peginterferon
alfa-2a (180 μg/week) or -2b (1.5 μg/kg/week) or interferon alfa-2a (3 MIU thrice weekly) was administered
in combination with ribavirin at 1,000-1,200 mg/day for 48 weeks for genotype 1 and at 800 mg/day
for 24 weeks for genotypes 2 and 3. Results: The overall SVR rate was 80.9% (114/141) in the peginterferon
group and 52.9% (27/51) in the interferon group (P=0.0001). The SVR rate in genotype 1 was 69.5% (41/59)
in the peginterferon group and 31.6% (6/19) in the interferon group (P=0.0033), whereas in genotype 2 or 3
it was 89.0% (73/82) in the peginterferon group and 65.6% (21/32) in the interferon group (P=0.0032). The
predictors of SVR in the peginterferon group were genotype, absence of cirrhosis, and early virologic response
(P<0.05). Conclusions: In Korean patients with chronic hepatitis C, a regimen of peginterferon and ribavirin
was more effective than a regimen of conventional interferon and ribavirin. This result is comparable to those
from studies on Western patients as an initial treatment for chronic hepatitis C. (Korean J Hepatol 2008;14:
318-330)
