Safety of interferon β treatment for chronic HCV hepatitis

Table 1 Frequency of treatment discontinuation and dose modifications during therapy with IFNβ.

	Number of cases	References
Discontinuation
Adverse events	14	25,28,29,30
Laboratory abnormalities	2	31
Dose modifications
Adverse events	-
Laboratory abnormalities	1	43

Table 2 Frequency of side effects with IFNβ therapy.

Side effects	Frequency (range) (%)	References
Flu-like syndrome	10-100	25,30,32,33,35,
		36, 37, 39, 46
Fever	67-100	28,43,40
Fatigue	16-74	24, 33, 39,46
Local reactions	43-76	25,34, 37
(at the injection site)
Headaches	8-47	33, 39, 46
Malaise	50	39
Arthro-myalgias	21-42	39,40,46
Weight loss	6-42	39,40
Gastrointestinal symptoms	20-26	25,37, 38
Anxiety, insomnia, irritability	10-25	32, 39, 38
Depression	10-21	25, 38,46
Alopecia	8-16	33, 39
Proteinuria	46-73	22, 51
Reduced platelet count	13-44	22, 32,51
Reduced white-cell count	13-20	32,38