Pegasys® Plus Ribavirin in Hemophilic Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Pegasys® Plus Ribavirin in Hemophilic Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Hemophilic patients are a known high risk groups for acquiring the hepatitis C. The
 surveillance data from Ministry Of Health in IR.Iran had shown that 60% of them are infected
 with HCV infection. We are trying the PEGASYS plus Ribavirin in Hemophilic patients with HCV.
The investigators enroll 400 patients into the study. The patients receive PEGASYS
 (Peginterferon alpha-2a(40 KD)) 180 microgram per week plus COPEGUS (Ribavirin) 800 microgram
 for Genotype 2 and 3 and 1000 milligram for weight less than 75 kg and 1200 milligram for
 more than 75 kg. The duration of protocol is depends on genotypes of virus. In genotype 1 and
 4, for 48 week and in genotypes 2 and 3 , for 24 weeks. The patients are visited every 4
 weeks with biochemistry lab tests. The patients are checked with quantitative HCV RNA on the
 third months after initiation of the treatment to assess early virologic response and at the
 end of the study for complete response rate and on the six month after treatment completion
 for sustained response rate. The patients with undetectable HCV RNA are considered as
 responders. We have omitted the liver biopsy in the patients.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  HCV RNA positive

 -  Age older than 12 years

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Ongoing pregnancy or breast feeding

 -  Hx of HCC

 -  Hx of alcoholic liver disease

 -  Hx of bleeding from esophageal varices

 -  Hx of hemochromatosis

 -  Hx of autoimmune hepatitis

 -  Hx of Suicidal attempt

 -  Hx of cerebrovascular dis

 -  Hx of severe retinopathy

 -  Hx of severe psoriasis

 -  Hx of scleroderma

 -  Hx of metabolic liver disease

 -  Hx of SLE