Peginterferon Plus Ribavirin for Certain HCV Patients: Shorter Is Better

A variable-duration regimen for patients with HCV genotype 2 or 3 infections is an effective strategy that reduces costs and improves tolerability.

Among all patients with hepatitis C (HCV) infections, response rate to pegylated interferon-plus-ribavirin regimens is approximately 55%. However, patients with HCV genotype 2 or 3 virus infections have a higher response rate (about 80%) with a shorter duration of therapy — 24 weeks versus the usual 48 weeks for patients with genotype 1 infections. Although effective, combination regimens have substantial side effects, which increase with duration of therapy. In this randomized, multicenter Italian trial, investigators evaluated whether a course of treatment even shorter than 24 weeks is as effective as standard-duration therapy among 283 patients with genotype 2 or 3 infections.

All patients received peginterferon alfa-2b (1.0 μg/kg weekly)…

Reviewing Author

Atif Zaman, MD, MPH