Efficacy of reduction therapy of natural human β‐interferon and ribavirin in elderly patients with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 2 and high virus load

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of natural human interferon (IFN)‐β and ribavirin in elderly patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 and high virus load. Methods: Inclusion criteria were age of 65 years or older, HCV genotype 2 and serum HCV RNA level of 5.0 logIU/mL or more. A total of 33 were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. IFN‐β was administrated i.v. at a dose of 6 million units daily for 4 weeks initially, followed by three times a week for 20 weeks. Ribavirin was given daily for 24 weeks at the dose described based on bodyweight. Fifteen patients were given a standard dose of ribavirin (standard group). Eighteen patients were given a reduction dose of ribavirin that decreased by one tablet per day compared to the standard group (reduction group). Results: Of the 33 study patients, no patient stopped the treatment due to treatment‐related adverse events. The dose of IFN‐β was reduced in three patients: Two patients belonged to the standard group and one patient belonged to the reduction group. The dose of ribavirin was reduced in 11 patients during combination therapy: nine patients belonged to the standard group and two patients belonged to the reduction group. The sustained virological response (SVR) was 72.2% (13/18) in the reduction group and 80.0% (12/15) in the standard group. There was no significant difference in SVR rate between the reduction and standard groups (P = 0.699). Conclusion: The reduction therapy of IFN‐β and ribavirin in elderly chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 2 and high virus load is one selection of treatment.