Pegasys® Plus Ribavirin in Thalassemic Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Pegasys® Plus Ribavirin in Thalassemic Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Antiviral treatment of HCV in thalassemia has raised concerns of ribavirin-induced hemolysis
 and increased iron loading. Blood Transfusion in Thalassemic patients are a known high risk
 for acquiring hepatitis C. The investigators are trying the PEGASYS (Peginterferon
 alpha-2a(40 KD)) plus Ribavirin in Thalassemic patients with HCV.
Patients with Thalassemia receive chronic blood transfusions and have an increased prevalence
 of chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, particularly if transfused before HCV
 serological testing became available. The investigators enrolled 300 patients into the study.
 The patients received PEGASYS (Peginterferon alpha-2a(40 KD)) 180 microgram per week plus
 COPEGUS (Ribavirin) 1000 milligram for weight less than or equal 75 kg and 1200 milligram for
 more than 75 kg for 48 weeks. Follow up period is 6 months after treatment. The patients are
 visited every 4 weeks with biochemistry lab tests. The patients are checked with quantitative
 HCV RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) 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.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  HCV RNA positive

 -  Age older than 12 years

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Ongoing pregnancy or breast feeding

 -  History (Hx) of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (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 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)