Comparison of Compliance and Efficacy of Pegylated Interferon α-2a and α-2b in Adults with Chronic Hepatitis C

This study compares treatment completion rates and outcomes in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients between those aged <60 and ≥60 years receiving pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) α-2a or α-2b combined with ribavirin. No significant differences were found in treatment completion rates and virological responses between age-stratified patients or between genotype-stratified patients receiving PEG-IFN α-2a versus PEG-IFN α-2b. Significantly more patients ≥60 years of receiving PEG-IFN α-2b exhibited an early virological response compared to those receiving PEG-IFN α-2a (P = 0.002); for patients <60 years of age, treatment outcomes were similar between the 2 groups. More liver fibrosis was observed in patients with HCV of genotype 1 than in those with genotypes 2 or 3. Mean changes in pre- and post-treatment fibrosis variables (bilirubin, platelet count, liver enzymes, FIB-4, and APRI) in HCV genotype 1 patients were greater in those receiving PEG-IFN α-2b than in those receiving PEG-IFN α-2a. Significant differences were not observed between age- and HCV genotype–stratified patients receiving PEG-IFN α-2a and -α-2b, but α-2b appears to have a modest efficacy advantage over α-2b, particularly in male HCV patients ≥60 years of age.