Comparison of Haematologic Side Effects of Different Pegylated Interferon-α Molecules Combined With Ribavirin

Abstract

Objective: Treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with pegylated interferon (PegIFN) and ribavirin causes haematological side effects such as anemia, neutropenia and trombocytopenia. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the haematological side effects of PegIFN alpha-2a and PegIFN alpha-2b with ribavirin in the treatment of chronic HCV infection.

Methods: 103 patients treated with PegIFN alpha-2b plus ribavirin and 70 patients treated with PegIFN alpha-2a plus ribavirin were included in this retrospective study. Patients' haematological parameters in first and third month's visits were compared with pretreatment test results.

Results: In all patients, 21.2% had anemia (haemoglobin <10 g/dL), 3.8% had neutropenia (<750/mm(3)) and 6.2% had thrombocytopenia (<75x10(9)/L) at the end of the third month. When compared with initial levels, significant decreases in haemoglobin, neutrophil and thrombocyte counts were observed at first and third months in both groups. There wasn't a significant decrease in thrombocyte counts in the first month between two groups, however, a more significant decrease in thrombocyte counts were observed in patients who received PegIFN alpha-2a plus ribavirin than the patients receiving PegIFN alpha-2b plus ribavirin during the third month.

Conclusions: PegIFN alpha-2b seems to have similar haematologic side effects, compared with PegIFN alpha-2a except the effects on the thrombocyte counts during the third month.