Abstract:
Thalassaemia patients with genotype 1 or 4 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were randomised to receive peginterferon alpha-2a 180 mg-week ribavirin for 48 weeks. Primary efficacy variable was sustained viral response (SVR) at 72 weeks. Thirty-two patients were evaluated; 20 enrolled. Baseline characteristics were comparable. SVR occurred in four of 12 and five of eight patients in the monotherapy and combination groups (30percent and 62·5percent; P = 0·19), respectively. Undetectable RNA at 12 weeks and age 18 years were associated with improved SVR (P 0·05). Transfusion requirements rose by 34percent in the combination arm (P = 0·08). Peginterferon-ribavirin was effective in thalassaemics with HCV and moderate iron overload. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.