Tolerability and efficacy of pegylated consensus interferonα in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C

This study aimed to explore and evaluate the tolerability and antiviral activity of pegylated recombinant human consensus interferonα (PEGCIFN) 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 PEGCIFN 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 α2a (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 PEGCIFN dose groups were less than that of pegylated IFN α2a (at week 14, P<0.05). The rapid virologic response of the PEGCIFN 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 µg/kg groups and the pegylated IFN α2a group were significantly higher than that of the PEGCIFN 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 PEGCIFN 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 µg/kg groups and the pegylated IFN α2a group were 30, 90, 88.8 and 88.8% respectively. PEGCIFN is well tolerated, and was found to have dosedependent effectiveness in subjects with chronic hepatitis C. Virological response rates between PEGCIFN 1.5 or 2.0 µg/kg, and pegylated IFNα2a were similar, and not significantly different. It is concluded that 1.5 µg/kg PEGCIFN may be the clinically recommended dose. PEGCIFN is superior to pegylated IFN α2a in maintaining platelet levels.