Comparative safety and efficacy of conventional interferon versus pegylated-interferon based therapy for HCV: A retrospective cohort study from Gujranwala, Pakistan

Pak J Pharm Sci. 2020 Sep;33(5):2037-2045.

Abstract

Numerous studies on risk factors, clinical presentation and treatment of hepatitis C are known to the world. However, no data is available about the safety and efficacy of anti-hepatitis C therapy among the patients of Gujranwala, Pakistan. This retrospective study compared two dosage forms of interferon; conventional interferon (IR) and Pegylated interferon (PIR) in 370 Hepatitis C patients selected through non probability convenient sampling technique. Clinical data were collected related to therapy outcomes at the start of therapy, after each follow up and at the end of therapy. The study indicated that HCV 3 was the most prevalent genotype of hepatitis C. Main side effects associated with therapies were pain at injection site (PIR; 49%, IR; 48%), inflammation at injection site (PIR; 34%, IR; 48%), fever (PIR; 56.12%, IR; 61.5%), myalgia (PIR; 24.5%,IR; 22.99%), malaise (PIR; 7.14%, IR; 5.75%), anorexia (PIR; 46%, IR; 39%), vomiting (PIR; 43%, IR; 41%), irritability (PIR; 4%, IR; 11.5%) and impaired concentration (PIR; 13%, IR; 21). The sustained viral response rate was significantly better in PIR group as compared to IR group (PIR; 80.61%, IR; 66.67%). In conclusion Pegylated interferon based therapy showed better clinical response with less adverse events as compared to conventional interferon based therapy. However, there is dire need to shift from these intravenous dosage forms to relatively new oral dosage forms for the treatment of hepatitis C to further improve clinical outcome and minimize the risks of adverse events.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects*
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepacivirus / growth & development
  • Hepatitis C / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis C / virology
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2 / adverse effects
  • Interferon alpha-2 / therapeutic use*
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pakistan
  • Polyethylene Glycols / adverse effects
  • Polyethylene Glycols / therapeutic use*
  • Recombinant Proteins / adverse effects
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use
  • Sustained Virologic Response
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • peginterferon alfa-2b
  • peginterferon alfa-2a