Hepatitis C

Comparison of Side Effects in 3 Different HCV Treatment Regimens from Randomized Controlled Clinical

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Table 1. Comparison of Side Effects in 3 Different HCV Treatment Regimens from Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials

	Peginterferon alfa-2b 1.5 mcg/kg weekly + Ribavirin 800 mg daily _{Manns, et al. The Lancet, 2001(3)} (N = 511)	Peginterferon alfa-2a 180 mcg weekly + Ribavirin 1000-1200 mg daily, weight based _{Fried, et al. NEJM, 2002(4)} (N = 453)	Interferon alfa-2b 3 million units three times weekly + Ribavirin 1000-1200 mg daily, weight based _{McHutchinson, et al. NEJM, 1998(2)} (N = 228)
Adverse Event	(% Affected)
# The % of patients with neutropenia was not reported or described, but authors included comment, "the leukocute counts decreased during therapy but the mean value remained within the normal range." * The % of patients with thrombocytopenia was not reported, but authors included comment, "the median platelet counts decreased progressively during first either weeks of peginterferon 2a plus ribavirin, before stabilizing, After treatment was completed, the median platelet counts returned to normal within four weeks. 1 patient had serious bleeding and 4 discontinued treatment due to thrombocytopenia."
Constitutional
Fatigue	64	54	70
Headache	62	47	66
Myalgias	56	42	64
Fever	46	43	41
Arthralgias	34	27	33
Gastrointestinal
Nausea	43	29	46
Anorexia	32	21	25
Diarrhea	22	n/a	22
Psychiatric
Depression	31	22	36
Irritability	35	24	32
Insomnia	40	37	39
Dermatological
Pruritus	29	22	19
Dermatitis/Rash	24	21	28
Alopecia	36	28	32
Laboratory
Anemia	9	23	9
Neutropenia	18	21	#
Thrombocytopenia	3	*	5
Endocrine	n/a	n/a	n/a
Respiratory
Cough	17	n/a	14
Dyspnea	26	n/a	18