Tsubota A, Satoh KI, Aizawa M, Takamatsu S, Namiki Y, Ohkusa T, Fujise K, Tajiri H. Four-week pegylated interferon α-2a monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C with genotype 2 and low viral load: A pilot, randomized study. World J Gastroenterol 2008; 14(47): 7220-7224 [PMID: 19084937 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.14.7220]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Dr. Akihito Tsubota, Institute of Clinical Medicine and Research, Jikei University School of Medicine, 163-1 Kashiwa-shita, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8567, Japan. atsubo@jikei.ac.jp
Article-Type of This Article
Rapid Communication
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Akihito Tsubota, Yoshihisa Namiki, Institute of Clinical Medicine and Research, Jikei University School of Medicine, Chiba 277-8567, Japan
Akihito Tsubota, Ken-ichi Satoh, Mashu Aizawa, Seishi Takamatsu, Toshifumi Ohkusa, Kiyotaka Fujise, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kashiwa Hospital, Jikei University School of Medicine, Chiba 277-8567, Japan
Hisao Tajiri, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
Author contributions: Tsubota A, Satoh K, Takamatsu S, and Fujise K designed the study; Tsubota A, Satoh K, Aizawa M, Takamatsu S, Ohkusa T, and Fujise K performed research; Tsubota A, Satoh K and Namiki Y analyzed data; and Tsubota A, Fujise K and Tajiri H wrote the paper.
Supported by Clinical Research Funds from Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kashiwa Hospital, Jikei University School of Medicine
Correspondence to: Dr. Akihito Tsubota, Institute of Clinical Medicine and Research, Jikei University School of Medicine, 163-1 Kashiwa-shita, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8567, Japan. atsubo@jikei.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-4-7164-1111 Fax: +81-4-7166-8638
Received: August 13, 2008 Revised: November 18, 2008 Accepted: November 25, 2008 Published online: December 21, 2008
Abstract
AIM: To assess the efficacy and advantages of 4-wk pegylated interferon α-2a (peg-IFN-α2a) monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C patients with strong predictors of sustained virologic response (SVR).
METHODS: Patients (n = 33) with genotype 2 and low viral load (< 100 KIU/mL), who became HCV RNA negative after 1 wk of IFN treatment, were randomly allocated to receive a 4- or 12-wk treatment course at a ratio of 2:1, respectively, with a subsequent 24-wk follow-up period. Peg-IFN-α2a was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 180 μg or 90 μg once weekly. SVR was defined as absence of serum HCV RNA at the end of the follow-up period.
RESULTS: All patients completed the treatment schedule, and more than half were symptom-free during the treatment. In the 4-wk treatment group, 20 of 22 (91%) patients achieved SVR. Two patients relapsed, but achieved SVR following re-treatment with peg-IFN-α2a alone. In the 12-wk treatment group, 11 of 11 (100%) patients attained SVR.
CONCLUSION: Our results show that a 4-wk course of peg-IFN-α2a monotherapy can achieve a high SVR rate in “IFN-sensitive” patients, without negatively affecting outcome.
