Gut Liver.  2009 Mar;3(1):20-25.

Recombinant Interferon-Beta-1alpha Plus Ribavirin for the Treatment of Chronic HCV Infection: A Prospective, Randomized, Comparative Pilot Study

• Ahn SH
• Lee HW
• Kim YS
• Kim JK
• Han KH
• Chon CY
• Moon YM

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Interferon beta (IFN-beta) has been shown to have antiviral activity, and thus could be useful in treating viral infections. Therefore, we compared the efficacy and safety of recombinant IFN-beta(IFN-beta-1a) plus oral ribavirin versus interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) plus ribavirin therapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV).
METHODS
Twenty treatment-naive patients were randomized into two equal-sized treatment groups. Both IFN-beta-1a (44microgram) and IFN-alpha (3 MIU) were given subcutaneously three times a week, while ribavirin was given orally at 1,000-1,200 mg/day. Patients were treated for 24 weeks and followed for an additional 24 weeks.
RESULTS
After 24 weeks of treatment, six (60%) and four patients (40%) in the IFN-beta-1a group and IFN-alpha groups, respectively, achieved viral clearance. The sustained virological response (SVR) at the end of the observation period was similar in both groups (40%). However, the baseline viral load was significantly higher (p=0.034) in the IFN-beta-1a group than in the IFN-alpha group, and there were more HCV genotype 1 patients in the IFN-beta-1a group (eight versus seven). The IFN-beta-1a group was associated with similar adverse events in terms of frequency and severity.
CONCLUSIONS
The SVR rate and safety profile were similar for the combination of IFN-beta-1a and ribavirin and that of IFN-alpha and ribavirin.

Keyword

Hepatitis C; Treatment outcome; Interferons; Prospective studies

MeSH Terms

Genotype
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C, Chronic
Humans
Interferon-alpha
Interferon-beta
Interferons
Pilot Projects
Prospective Studies
Ribavirin
Treatment Outcome
Viral Load
Interferon-alpha
Interferon-beta
Interferons
Ribavirin