Journal of Practical Hepatology ›› 2021, Vol. 24 ›› Issue (6): 815-818.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-5069.2021.06.012

• Viral hepatitis • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Peginterferon-α and ribavirin combination in treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C and its impact on resting energy expenditure and nutritional status

Jiang Hao, Zhang Wen, Chen Xia   

  1. Department of Pharmacy, Third Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Nantong 226006,Jiangsu Province, China
  • Received:2021-02-03 Online:2021-11-10 Published:2021-11-15

Abstract: Objective The aim of this clinical trial was to investigate the response of peginterferon-α-2a (PEG-IFNα-2a)and ribavirin combination in treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C and its impact on resting energy expenditure (REE) and nutritional status. Methods Forty-eight patients with CHC were enrolled in this clinical trial between April 2017 and April 2019, and were randomly divided into observation and control group, with 24 cases in each group. The patients in the observation group were treated with PEG-IFNα-2a and ribavirin, and those in the control group were treated with interferon α-2a (IFNα-2a) and ribavirin combination for 48 weeks. The REE, predicted REE (pREE) as well as body mass index (BMI) and serum prealbumin (PA) and albumin (ALB) levels were obtained. Results At the end of 48 week treatment and 6 month of followed-up, the complete response in the observation group were 62.5% and 54.2%, both significantly higher than 37.5% and 29.2% in the control (P<0.05); at presentation, the REE and pREE in the observation were (1504.6±481.5)kcal/d and (1432.3±229.3)kcal/d, both increased to (1822.1±546.7)kcal/d and (1241.8±208.6)kcal/d at the end of the treatment, and they were (1505.2±482.1)kcal/d and (1433.5±231.2)kcal/d in the control before treatment, and they also increased to (1824.4±547.6)kcal/d and (1243.1±208.8)kcal/d at the end of the regimen, not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05); before treatment, the BMI, serum PA and ALB levels in the observation were (19.2±2.0)kg/m2, (161.5±45.2)mg/L and (38.4±4.2)g/L, they decreased to (17.1±1.5)kg/m2, (135.8±40.2)mg/L and (34.2±3.2)g/L at the end of the treatment, and those in the control before treatment were (19.3±2.1)kg/m2, (161.3±45.0)mg/L and (38.5±4.4)g/L, and all decreased to (17.2±1.5)kg/m2, (136.3±40.2)mg/L and (34.2±3.1)g/L at the end of the treatment, without significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Compared with IFNα-2a and ribavirin combination, the application of PEG-IFNα-2a and ribavirin in treatment of patients with CHC could achieve a better virological response, while no matter IFNα-2a or PEG-IFNα-2a might increase resting energy expenditure and induce malnutrition, which warrants clinical attentions.

Key words: Chronic hepatitis C, Peginterferon-α-2a, Ribavirin, Resting energy expenditure, Therapy