Table 2.
Adverse effects of PegIFNα-2b and rIFNα-2b, and PegIFNα-2b and observation alone (EORTC 18991)96,107
| Adverse effects | PegIFNα-2b 1μg/kg (n297) (%) | rIFNα-2b 3MIU (n303) (%) | PegIFNα-2b 6 μ/kg induction, 3 μ/kg maintenance (n = 627) EORTC 18991(%) | Observation (n = 629) EORTC 18991 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body as whole | ||||
| Fatigue | 52 | 54 | 94 | 79 |
| Headache | 56 | 52 | 70 | 19 |
| Fever | 22 | 12 | 75 | 9 |
| Liver | ||||
| Abnormal liver function tests, hepatomegaly | 6 | 5 | 79 | 36 |
| Musculoskeletal | ||||
| Myalgia | 54 | 53 | 67 | 23 |
| Psychiatric disorders | ||||
| Depression | 2 | 25 | 59 | 25 |