Efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon α-2b and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C in children

Introduction : Encouraging results of combined therapy in the treatment of chronic HCV infection in adults became a premise to apply such treatment in children. The correctness of this decision is reinforced by the fact that in children there were observed most of the factors which forecast obtaining a sustained viral response (SVR), such as: shorter duration of HCV infection, lower grade fibrosis and less severe side effects related to the applied medications.

Aim : To assess the efficacy and safety of peginterferon -2b therapy of chronic hepatitis C in children.

Material and methods : The study comprised 32 children (25 boys and 7 girls,) aged between 12 and 18 years, with chronic hepatitis C treated with peginterferon -2b and ribavirin. Half of these children had previously been treated with recombined interferon -2b and ribavirin to no effect. The treatment included peginterferon -2b (PegIntron) administered subcutaneously 1.5 µg/kg once per week and ribavirin orally 15 mg/kg/day for a period of 12 months. SVR was estimated after 6 months from the end of therapy.

Results : A sustained viral response was observed in 13 (40.6%) of 32 treated children. In 16 children who had previously been treated with recombined interferon a-2b and ribavirin a sustained viral response was documented in 3 (18.8%) of them. However, in children treated for the first time, SVR was achieved in 62.5%.

Conclusions : Peginterferon and ribavirin should be applied in children with chronic hepatitis C as a first-line therapy, guaranteeing higher effectiveness than the earlier applied pattern of treatment. Peginterferon therapy is safe and well tolerated by the children.