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Interferon and ribavirin as frontline treatment for chronic hepatitis C infection in thalassaemia major by Chi Kong Li; Paul K. S. Chan; Siu Cheung Ling; Shau Yin Ha is a scholarly article available to read on EtoBox.

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**Summary.** Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common in transfusion‐dependent thalassaemia. The clinical usefulness of 12‐month treatment, using interferon alpha 3 MIU/m^2^ thrice weekly and oral ribavirin 16 mg/kg/d, was evaluated in 18 previously untreated thalassaemia patients. The median age at start of treatment was 16 years (range 7–29). Fourteen were infected with genotype 1b and 4 with genotype 6a. The sustained biochemical and virological response rates 6 months after stopping treatment were both 72·2%. Blood consumption was temporarily increased by 30% due to ribavirin‐associated haemolysis. This study demonstrated a high, sustained response rate to combination treatment despite infection with genotype 1b.

Author

Chi Kong Li; Paul K. S. Chan; Siu Cheung Ling; Shau Yin Ha

Publisher

John Wiley and Sons; Wiley (Blackwell Publishing); Blackwell Publishing Inc.; Wiley (ISSN 0007-1048)

Published

2002

Language

EN