Efficacy and safety of two-dose regimens of peginterferon alpha-2a compared with interferon alpha-2a in chronic hepatitis C: a multicenter, randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES: This study compared the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alpha-2a 135 microg/wk, peginterferon alpha-2a 180 microg/wk and interferon alpha-2a in patients with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: A total of 639 patients received peginterferon alpha-2a 135 microg or 180 microg once weekly, or interferon alpha-2a 3 MIU thrice weekly for 48 wk. RESULTS: Sustained virological responses were significantly higher with peginterferon alpha-2a than with interferon alpha-2a 3 MIU (28% in the 135 microg and 180 microg peginterferon alpha-2a groups vs 11% with interferon alpha-2a, p = 0.001). The proportion of patients with clinically significant histological improvement was lower in the peginterferon alpha-2a 135 microg (48%) than the 180 microg group (58%, p = 0.035 vs peginterferon alpha-2a 135 microg), but similar to that in the interferon alpha-2a group (45%, p = 0.820 vs peginterferon alpha-2a 135 microg and p = 0.017 vs peginterferon alpha-2a 180 microg, respectively). The overall safety profiles were similar for the three treatments. In patients with chronic hepatitis C, peginterferon alpha-2a 135 microg/wk and 180 microg/wk produced similar sustained virological response rates, both of which were significantly higher than that achieved with interferon alpha-2a thrice weekly. A significantly higher proportion of patients treated with the 180 microg dose of peginterferon alpha-2a had clinically significant histological improvement.