BACKGROUND/AIM: Hepatic complications are a major cause of death in patients with congenital anaemia and chronic hepatitis C. Ribavirin is usually contraindicated in patients with haemolytic anaemia. This pilot study evaluated the efficacy and safety of antiviral treatment in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) or beta-thalassaemia major (TM). METHODS: Eleven consecutive SCD and TM patients were included. Interferon monotherapy was administrated in the two first thalassaemic patients. Other patients received combination therapy with full dose of pegylated interferon 2b and increasing doses of ribavirin, starting with a low dose of ribavirin (400 mg/day). RESULTS: Hepatitis C virus genotypes were 1 or 4 in nine cases. A sustained virological response achieved in five of 11 patients despite unfavourable factors to response (genotypes, nonresponders to an earlier treatment). Haemoglobin level at the end of treatment was higher than baseline levels in five of six SCD patients. No SCD patient needed a transfusion during and after treatment period, neither presented vasoocclusive crisis. The mean increase in transfusion requirements was 32.5% in the thalassaemic group. CONCLUSION: A sustained virological response can be obtained in SCD and TM patients. No earlier study of excellent haematological tolerance among SCD patients under ribavirin has been reported to date. The results of this study suggest that full dose ribavirin could be used from the start of treatment in SCD patients.
BACKGROUND/AIM: Hepatic complications are a major cause of death in patients with congenital anaemia and chronic hepatitis C. Ribavirin is usually contraindicated in patients with haemolytic anaemia. This pilot study evaluated the efficacy and safety of antiviral treatment in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) or beta-thalassaemia major (TM). METHODS: Eleven consecutive SCD and TM patients were included. Interferon monotherapy was administrated in the two first thalassaemic patients. Other patients received combination therapy with full dose of pegylated interferon 2b and increasing doses of ribavirin, starting with a low dose of ribavirin (400 mg/day). RESULTS:Hepatitis C virus genotypes were 1 or 4 in nine cases. A sustained virological response achieved in five of 11 patients despite unfavourable factors to response (genotypes, nonresponders to an earlier treatment). Haemoglobin level at the end of treatment was higher than baseline levels in five of six SCDpatients. No SCDpatient needed a transfusion during and after treatment period, neither presented vasoocclusive crisis. The mean increase in transfusion requirements was 32.5% in the thalassaemic group. CONCLUSION: A sustained virological response can be obtained in SCD and TM patients. No earlier study of excellent haematological tolerance among SCDpatients under ribavirin has been reported to date. The results of this study suggest that full dose ribavirin could be used from the start of treatment in SCDpatients.
Authors: Samir K Ballas; Muge R Kesen; Morton F Goldberg; Gerard A Lutty; Carlton Dampier; Ifeyinwa Osunkwo; Winfred C Wang; Carolyn Hoppe; Ward Hagar; Deepika S Darbari; Punam Malik Journal: ScientificWorldJournal Date: 2012-08-01
Authors: Adnan Agha; Rafaat Chakik; Mamdouh M Abdulhadi Ali; Dib Alsaudi; Giorgio Sammito; Edoardo Giovanni Giannini Journal: Ann Saudi Med Date: 2013 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 1.526