Sofosbuvir plus ribavirin is tolerable and effective even in elderly patients 75-years-old and over

Table 5 Adverse events during treatment

	Total,n = 265	Patients ≥ 75-yr-old, n = 83	Patients < 75-yr-old, n = 182	P value
Treatment discontinuation due to adverse events1	1 (0.4%)	1 (1.2%)	0	0.313
Dose reduction or interruption of ribavirin due to anemia2	32 (13.2%)	18 (21.7%)	14 (7.7%)	0.002
Dermatitis	9 (3.4%)	1 (1.2%)	8 (4.4%)	0.281
Depression	3 (1.1%)	1 (1.2%)	2 (0.5%)	1.000
Headache	4 (1.5%)	0	4 (2.2%)	0.313
Infection	4 (1.5%)	1 (1.2%)	3 (1.6%)	1.000
Other adverse events	11 (4.2%)	5 (6.0%)	6 (3.3%)	0.328
Elevated bilirubin level	2 (0.8%)	1 (1.2%)	1 (0.5%)	0.529
Elevated transaminase level	4 (1.5%)	2 (2.4%)	2 (1.1%)	0.592
Elevated serum ammonia level	5 (1.9%)	2 (2.4%)	3 (1.6%)	0.650
Elevated uric acid level	26 (9.8%)	10 (12.0%)	16 (8.8%)	0.504

¹Drug-induced pneumonitis with positivity to sofosbuvir on drug-induced lymphocyte stimulation test.

²Significant difference between patients ≥ 75-years-old and < 75-years-old (P < 0.01).