Linked Life Data

15597026

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/15597026

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1 Suppl
pubmed:dateCreated
2004-12-14
pubmed:abstractText
Hematologic side effects (anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia) of combination therapy with pegylated (PEG)-interferon alfa and ribavirin are commonly encountered during antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C (HCV). An important consequence of these side effects is dose modification of PEG-interferon alfa, ribavirin, or both. Dose modification (including discontinuation) diminishes the efficacy of optimal treatment regimen for HCV and may have a negative impact on sustained virologic response. Additionally, fatigue associated with anemia may impair patients' quality of life. The clinical implications of neutropenia or thrombocytopenia are less clear than for anemia; nevertheless, severe infection and bleeding are uncommon. Dose adjustments effectively treat these hematologic side effects, but the resulting suboptimal dosing and potential impact on virologic response are major concerns. Recent attempts to maximize adherence to the optimal treatment regimen have used hematopoietic growth factors rather than dose adjustment to treat side effects. Research on growth factor support has focused on anemia and neutropenia. Epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa are erythropoietic growth factors that effectively increase hemoglobin while maintaining the optimal ribavirin dose and improving patients' quality of life. Preliminary work suggests that filgrastim, granulocyte colony stimulating factors, may be an effective treatment of interferon-induced neutropenia. Although this early work shows tremendous promise for managing hematologic side effects of combination therapy for HCV, and potentially enhancing adherence, further research is needed to clarify the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of growth factors in the management of patients with chronic HCV.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Antiviral Agents, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Erythropoietin, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating..., http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Growth Substances, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Hematinics, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Interferon-alpha, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Polyethylene Glycols, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Recombinant Proteins, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Ribavirin, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/darbepoetin alfa, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/epoetin alfa, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/interferon alfa-2a, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/interferon alfa-2b, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/peginterferon alfa-2a, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/peginterferon alfa-2b
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0192-0790
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
39
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
S9-13
pubmed:dateRevised
2011-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2005
pubmed:articleTitle
The use of growth factors to manage the hematologic side effects of PEG-interferon alfa and ribavirin.
pubmed:affiliation
Center for Liver Diseases at Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA 22042, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review