Linked Life Data

15793840

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/15793840

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
5
pubmed:dateCreated
2005-4-25
pubmed:abstractText
Peginterferon plus ribavirin is standard therapy for adults with chronic hepatitis C. As no data are available for children, the aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of peginterferon alfa-2b in combination with ribavirin in chronically infected children. Genotypes, alanine aminotransferase levels, and different routes of viral transmission were considered. In an open-labeled, uncontrolled pilot study, 62 children and adolescents (range, 2-17 years) were treated with subcutaneous peginterferon alfa-2b at a dose of 1.5 microg/kg body weight once per week plus oral ribavirin (15 mg/kg x day) for 48 weeks. Sixty-one patients completed the study. Twenty-three children discontinued therapy after 6 months according to study protocol. Sustained viral response was documented in 22 (47.8%)of 46 patients with genotype 1, in 13 (100%) of 13 with genotype 2 or 3, in 1 of 2 with genotype 4, in 19 (70.4%) of 27 children with parenteral, in 12 (48%) of 25 with vertical, and in 5 of 9 with unknown route of infection. Overall, treatment was well tolerated. Nevertheless, some side effects were present in all treated patients. Eighty-three percent had leucopenia, but only 3 individuals required dose reduction and 10.3% developed thyroid autoantibodies and thyroid dysfunction. In conclusion, combination treatment of peginterferon alfa-2b with ribavirin showed encouraging results and was well tolerated in children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis C. Weekly dosing of peginterferon alfa-2b is a considerable advance for this age group. The treatment is not approved for children. Further controlled trials are needed.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
May
pubmed:issn
0270-9139
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
41
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1013-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2011-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2005
pubmed:articleTitle
Peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin treatment in children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis C.
pubmed:affiliation
HELIOS Children's Hospital Wuppertal, Witten-Herdecke University, Germany. swirth@wuppertal.helios-kliniken.de
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Clinical Trial