efficacy and tolerability of peginterferon alpha-2a and peginterferon alpha-2b in iranian patients with chronic hepatitis c

conclusions there was no significant difference in the efficacy of peginterferon-alpha-2a and peginterferon-alpha-2b in iranian patients. physicians might choose the treatment regimen for every individual concerning the differences in side effects of peginterferons. background nearly 0.5% of iranians are infected with hcv. peginterferon-alpha-2a and peginterferon-alpha-2b are the two available types of interferon for the treatment of hepatitis c. comparing the results of these two treatments is still a challenge. objectives the aim of this study was to compare the results of peginterferon-alpha-2a and peginterferon-alpha-2b in iranian patients with chronic hepatitis c. patients and methods 289 patients with chronic hepatitis c attending tehran hepatitis center (thc) and hepatitis clinic of tehran blood transfusion organization (tbto) from january 2008 to april 2013 and treated with combination of peginterferon-alpha-2a or peginterferon-alpha-2b plus ribavirin were enrolled in this retrospective cross-sectional study. treatment response and side effects were compared. results among all naive patients, 82.0% achieved svr, 5.4% were resistant to therapy and 11.0% withdrew the treatment. relapse was seen in 12.2% of naive patients who finished the course of treatment. rvr and evr were seen in 67.7% and 90.6% of naive patients, respectively. patients divided into two groups. group a consists of 247 patients treated with peginterferon-alpha-2a and group b 42 patients treated with peginterferon-alpha-2b. no significant difference in treatment response was observed between naive patients of the two groups. the rates of arthralgia/myalgia, alopecia, pruritus, insomnia, dyspnea and anorexia were higher in group a and the rates of dermal problems, coryza and bleeding were higher in group b. in a subgroup analysis, the two kinds of peginterferon-alpha-2a available in iran were compared. rapid and early viral responses and relapse rates were lower in the one made in iran and the long-term responses were not different. the rates of arthralgia/myalgia, fever, alopecia, pruritus, insomnia, dyspnea, anorexia, cough, headache and abdominal pain were higher and the rates of irritability and coryza were lower in the one made in iran.