• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.214-222
• /
• 2014

Purpose: This study was to identify factors predicting the occurrence of depression among patients with hepatitis C treated with Peg-interferon. Methods: The subjects were 134 patients treated with Peg-interferon after the diagnosis with hepatitis C at the D University Hospital and 3 hospitals located in Busan, South Korea. The predictors of depression were identified by measuring the general characteristics of the subjects and their disease-related characteristics, social support, sleep disorders, and degree of side effects by interferon. The data were analyzed with a t-test, ANOVA, and logistic regression using the SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. Results: Sixty-six point four percent of the subjects suffered from mild to more severe depression. Fatigue, hair loss, itching, and sleep disorders turned out to be significant predictors. In addition, the explanatory power of these variables for the occurrence of depression was 70%. Conclusion: Sleep disorders and drug side effects were determined to have significant influence on the development of depression in hepatitis C patients treated with Peg-interferon. Therefore, the development of nursing intervention programs aimed to prevent depression by effectively managing sleep disorders and side effects is mandated in future to help the given population.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.1037-1040
• /
• 2015

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infectious disease of liver, caused by a small enveloped, positive-single stranded RNA virus, called the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV belongs to the Flaviviridae family and has 6 genotypes and more than 100 subtypes. It is estimated that 185 million people are infected with HCV worldwide and 5% of these are in Pakistan. The study was designed to evaluate different genotypes of HCV circulating in District Mardan and to know about the behavior of these genotypes to different anti-viral regimes. In this study 3,800 patients were exposed to interferon alfa-2a plus Ribavirin treatment for 6-months and subjected to real-time PCR to check the viral response. Among these 3,677 (97%) patients showed no detectable HCV RNA while 123 (3%) patients (non-responders) remained positive for HCV RNA. Genotypes of their analyzed showed that most of them belonged to the 3a genotype. Non-responders (123) and relapsed (5) patients were subjected to PEG-interferon and Ribavirin therapy for next 6 months, which resulted into elimination of HCV RNA from 110 patients. The genotypes of the persisting resistant samples to anti-viral treatment were 3b, 2a, 1a and 1b. Furthermore, viral RNA from 6 patients remained un-typed while 4 patients showed mixed infections. HCV was found more resistant to antiviral therapy in females as compared to mals. The age group 36-45 in both females and males was found most affected by infection. In general 3a is the most prevalent genotype circulating in district Mardan and the best anti-viral therapy is PEG-interferon plus Ribavirin but it is common practice that due to the high cost patients receive interferon alfa-2a plus Ribavirin with consequent resistance in 3% patients given this treatment regime.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.63 no.2
• /
• pp.52-55
• /
• 2020

Background: Immunomodulatory properties of interferon (IFN) have been documented. It may induce autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune thyroiditis with hypo- or hyperthyroidism. In addition, it may impair thyroid hormone synthesis through affecting iodide organification in thyroid gland. Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe thyroid function tests disturbances in children with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) receiving pegylated interferon-alpha (PEG IFN-α) plus ribavirin. Methods: Fifty children with CHC virus infection who received combined pegylated interferon-alpha with ribavirin were selected. Other 50 apparently healthy children of matched age and sex (considered as control group) were selected. All children (100) were subject to liver function tests, virological studies, and follow-up of thyroid function test during and after the treatment course. Results: Our study showed that 28% of children received combined PEG IFN-α plus ribavirin showed subclinical hypothyroidism. After 24 weeks treatment with combined therapy of IFN plus ribavirin, the mean level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was 3.23±88 mU/mL, while TSH was 1.16±0.77 mU/mL before starting treatment. On the other hand, mean TSH was 1.09±0.92 mU/mL in normal control group. Conclusion: This study revealed an association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and treatment with IFN-alpha and ribavirin in children. Further studies on larger number of patients and longer follow-up duration are recommended for further confirmation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.13
• /
• pp.5515-5519
• /
• 2015

The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) ss469415590 in the interferon lambda-4 (IFNL4) gene has recently been reported to have an association with treatment response in chronic hepatitis C. However, any importance of the SNP in association with response to pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is unclear. We retrospectively analyzed data for Thai patients with CHB treated with PEG-IFN for 48 weeks. Virological response (VR) for HBeAg-positive CHB was defined as HBeAg seroconversion plus HBV DNA level <2,000 IU/mL at 24 weeks post-treatment. VR for HBeAg-negative CHB was defined as an HBV DNA level <2,000 IU/mL at 48 weeks. The SNP was identified by real time PCR using the TaqMan genotyping assay with MGB probes. A total 254 patients (107 HBeAg-positive and 147 HBeAg-negative) were enrolled in the study. The distribution of TT/TT, ${\Delta}G/TT$ and ${\Delta}G/{\Delta}G$ genotypes was 221 (87.0%), 32 (12.6%) and 1 (0.4%), respectively. Patients with non-TT/TT genotypes had significantly higher baseline HBV DNA levels than patients with the TT/TT genotype. In HBeAg-positive CHB, 41.2% of patients with TT/TT genotype versus 50.0% with non-TT/TT genotype achieved VR (P=0.593). In HBeAg-negative CHB, the corresponding figures were 40.3% and 43.5%, respectively (P=0.777). There was no significant correlation between the SNP genotypes and HBsAg clearance in both groups of patients. In summary, ss469415590 genotypes were not associated with response to PEG-IFN in Thai patients with HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative CHB.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2001.10a
• /
• pp.301.1-301.1
• /
• 2001

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.406.3-407
• /
• 2002

Analysis of interferon alpha (IFN) modified with high molecular weight branched PEG was performed by capillary electrophoresis (CE) and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). IFN was modified by the reaction of amine residues with an active ester of monomethoxy polyethylene glycol at various molar ratios. As a CE method. capilary electrophoresis sodium dodecyl sulfate nongel sieving (CE-SDS NGS) was performed using an uncoated capilary filled with a hydrophilic replaceable polymer network matrix. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
• /
• 2003.10b
• /
• pp.87-88
• /
• 2003

PegIntron is the pegylated form of human recombinant interferon alfa-2b (IFN${\alpha}$2b). IFN ${\alpha}$2b, known as Intron A, has been in approved clinical use since the 1980's for various cancer indications, and for the treatment of Hepatitis C. In the mid 1990's, several clinical investigators reported that combination therapy with ribavirin and Intron A dramatically increased the therapeutic efficacy for treatment of Hepatitis C.(omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
• /
• 2002.11b
• /
• pp.194-194
• /
• 2002

Interferon has therapeutic potential for a wide range of infectious and proliferous disorders such as chronic hepatitis C. However, it has drawbacks such as relatively short serum half-life and rapid clearance like other therapeutic proteins. The attachment of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety to interferon is considered as one of the most promising solutions for its ability to extend the plasma residence time.(omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.424.1-424.1
• /
• 2002

Interferon has therapeutic potential for a wide range of infectious and proliferative disorders such as chronic hepatitis C and malignant melanoma. However. it has some therapeutic problems as other protein therapeutics do. A variety of approaches have been developed to circumvent these problems. Among them. the attachment of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety 10 interferon is considered as one of the most promising solutions for its ability of extending the plasma residence time. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.418.1-418.1
• /
• 2002

Recombinant interferon alpha is widely used for the treatment of diseases including chronic hepatitis C. However. it has drawbacks such as relatively short serum half-life and rapid clearance like other therapeutic proteins. Using PFGylFltioo which is one of the well-established methods to fulfill the requirements of a long-lasting form of protein. wIe prepared mono-PEG modified interferon alpha-2a in which polyethylene glycol moiety was covalently attached to the amino groups of interfelon alpha-2a. (omitted)