Peginterferon and ribavirin treatment for hepatitis C virus infection

Table 1 Randomized, controlled trials for 48 wk vs 72 wk of peginterferon plus ribavirin in treatment-naïve patients infected with genotype 1 or 4

Authors	Country	Response criteria (time point) for randomization	Peg-IFNα/ribavirin	SVR rate in genotype 1 (48 wk vs 72 wk), n (%)	Difference (%)	P value	SVR rate in genotype 4 (48 wk vs 72 wk), n (%)
Sánchez-Tapias et al[57], 2006	Spain	Non-RVR (at wk 4)	2a: (180 μg/wk)/ 800 mg/d	41/149 (28) vs 63/142 (44)	16	0.003	12/16 (75) vs 10/19 (53)
Berg et al[56], 2006	Germany	Before treatment (Subgroup analysis for non-EVR)	2a: (180 μg/wk)/ 800 mg/d	17/100 (17) vs 31/106 (29)	12	0.040	-
Pearlman et al[58], 2007	USA	Slow response (at wk 24)	2b: (1.5 μg/kg per week)/ 800-1400 mg/d	9/49 (18) vs 20/52 (38)	20	0.026	-
Ferenci et al[61], 2010	Austria	EVR (at wk 12)	2a: (180 → 135 μg/wk)/ 1000-1200 mg/d	65/127 (51) vs 81/134 (60)	9	0.137	6/12 (50) vs 7/16 (44)

Peg-IFNα: Pegylated interferon α; SVR: Sustained virological response; RVR: Rapid virological response; EVR: Early virological response.

Table 2 Randomized, controlled trials and cohort studies comparing efficacy of peginterferon α-2a vsα-2b in combination with ribavirin for treatment-naïve patients

Authors	Country	Study design	Peg-IFNα (μg/wk)	Ribavirin (mg/d)	No. of patients	SVR rate (α-2a vsα-2b) (%)	P value
McHutchison et al[27], 2009	USA	RCT, IDEAL study, industry-initiated, multicenter	2a: 180	2a: 1000-1200	2a: 10351	40.9 vs 38.0 or 39.8	NS
			2b: 1.0/kg or 1.5/kg	2b: 800-1400	2b: 10161 or 10191
Ascione et al[29], 2010	Italy	RCT, investigator-initiated, single-center	2a: 180	2a: 1000-1200	2a: 1602	68.8 vs 54.4	0.008
			2b: 1.5	2b: 1000-1200	2b: 1602
Rumi et al[28], 2010	Italy	RCT, MIST study, investigator-initiated, single-center	2a: 180	2a: 1000-1200	2a: 2122	66 vs 54	0.020
			2b: 1.5	2b: 800-1400	2b: 2192
Yenice et al[120], 2006	Turkey	RCT, investigator-initiated, single-center	2a: 180	2a: 800-1200	2a: 371	48.6 vs 35.1	NS
			2b: 1.5	2b: 800-1200	2b: 371
Craxi et al[26], 2008	Italy	Prospective, PROBE study, industry-initiated, multicenter	2a: 180	2a: 1000-1200	2a: 6631	36 vs 29	0.020
			2b: 1.5	2b: 1000-1200	2b: 3541
Witthoeft et al[75], 2008	Germany	Retrospective, PRACTICE study, industry-initiated, multicenter, matched pair	2a: 180	2a: Not stated	2a: 8482	59.3 vs 53.0	0.008
			2b: 1.5	2b: Not stated	2b: 8482
Backus et al[25], 2007	USA	Retrospective, United States veterans, government-initiated, multicenter	2a: 180	2a: 1000-1200	2a: 20912	25 vs 18	< 0.001
			2b: 1.5	2b: 800-1400	2b: 38532

¹Genotype 1 alone;

²Genotypes 1-3 or 1-4. Peg-IFNα: Pegylated interferon α; SVR: Sustained virological response; RCT: Randomized controlled trial; NS: Not significant; IDEAL: Individualized Dosing Efficacy vs. Flat Dosing to Assess Optimal Pegylated Interferon Therapy; MIST: Milan Safety Tolerability; PROBE: Pegylated interferons and Real Optimization of Best Efficacy; PRACTICE: Pegylated Interferons and Ribavirin: Analysis of Chronic Hepatitis C Treatment In Centres of Excellence.