Safety and efficacy of combination therapy with pegylated interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin in treating patients with chronic hepatitis C and beta-thalassaemia major: a Greek single-center experience.

摘要

Chronic blood transfusions increase the prevalence of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) among subjects with beta-thal-assaemia major, especially if transfused before the introduction of blood donor screening for HCV. On the other hand, the risk of ribavirin-induced haemolysis has raised many considerations about the use of the current standard of care therapy of HCV with pegylated interferon and ribavirin in thalassaemic patients. Recently published recommendations from a panel of experts suggest combination therapy, but they also underline the moderate quality of evidence [1]. In particular, a meta-analysis reported only two small relative clinical trials [2], while in a new study with 280 patients, only low-dose ribavirin was administered [3]. We would like to report our experience and compare it with the literature.