Abstract
Standard of care for patients with chronic hepatitis C is pegylated interferon (pegIFN) combined with ribavirin (Rbv). It results in persistent viral eradication and prevents the progression of liver disease and the associated complications in about 50% of treated patients. Currently, two PegIFNs are available that differ significantly in terms of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles as a consequence of different pegylation chemistries. While the registration trials of the two therapeutic regimens demonstrated the superiority of each PegIFN vs the native IFN α2b, the superiority of one regimen over the other in terms of treatment efficacy remains unknown. Retrospective cohort studies and randomized prospective head-to-head trials have attempted to resolve the considerable controversy over this issue and support evidence-based treatment decisions.
© 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
MeSH terms
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Antiviral Agents* / adverse effects
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Antiviral Agents* / pharmacokinetics
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Antiviral Agents* / pharmacology
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Antiviral Agents* / therapeutic use
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Drug Therapy, Combination
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Half-Life
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Hepacivirus / drug effects*
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Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
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Hepatitis C, Chronic / virology
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Humans
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Interferon alpha-2
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Interferon-alpha* / adverse effects
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Interferon-alpha* / pharmacokinetics
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Interferon-alpha* / pharmacology
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Interferon-alpha* / therapeutic use
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Polyethylene Glycols* / adverse effects
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Polyethylene Glycols* / pharmacokinetics
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Polyethylene Glycols* / pharmacology
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Polyethylene Glycols* / therapeutic use
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Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic*
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Recombinant Proteins / adverse effects
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Recombinant Proteins / pharmacokinetics
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Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
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Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
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Ribavirin / adverse effects
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Ribavirin / pharmacology
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Ribavirin / therapeutic use
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Treatment Outcome
Substances
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Antiviral Agents
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Interferon alpha-2
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Interferon-alpha
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Recombinant Proteins
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Polyethylene Glycols
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Ribavirin
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peginterferon alfa-2b
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peginterferon alfa-2a