Table 1.
Characteristics of the studies included in the systematic analysis
| Ref. | Study design | No. of patients | Age (yr) | Weight | HCV genotype | Baseline treatment history | Child-Pugh class | Treatment |
| Syed et al[12] | Retrospective cohort study | 104 | 52 ± 7.6 | 82 ± 15 kg (mean weight) | 1, 2, 3 | Naive and previously treated | A | Pegylated interferon alpha 2a (180 μg/wk) or alpha 2b (1-1.5 μg/kg per week) |
| Ribavirin (800-1200 mg/d) | ||||||||
| Butt et al[13] | Prospective cohort study | 66 | 46.2 ± 10.1 | 22.3 ± 3.1 kg/m² (mean BMI) | 3 | Naive and previously treated | A, B | Pegylated interferon alpha 2a (180 μg/wk) or alpha 2b (1 μg/kg per week) |
| Ribavirin (10-12 mg/kg per day) | ||||||||
| Giannini et al[14] | Retrospective cohort study | 85 | 56 ± 9 | Not specified | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Naive and previously treated | A, B | Pegylated interferon alpha 2a (180 μg/wk) or alpha 2b (1.5 μg/kg per week) |
| Ribavirin (800-1200 mg/ d) | ||||||||
| Helbling et al[15] | Randomized controlled trial (standard doses vs low doses) | 64 | 47 (median age) | 74 kg (median weight) | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Naive | A | Pegylated interferon alpha 2a (180 μg/wk) |
| Ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/ d) | ||||||||
| Iacobellis et al[16] | Prospective cohort study | 94 | Not specified | Not specified | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Naive | B | Pegylated interferon alpha 2b (1.5 μg/kg per week) |
| Ribavirin (800-1200 mg/d) | ||||||||
| Roffi et al[17] | Randomized controlled trial (pegylated interferon vs IFN standard) | 57 | 56 (median age) | 75 kg (median weight) | 1, 2, 3 | Naive | A | Pegylated interferon alpha 2b (1 μg/kg per week) |
| Ribavirin (800-1200 mg/d) | ||||||||
| Sood et al[18] | Retrospective cohort study | 28 | 48.3 ± 7 | 73.9 ± 11.2 kg (mean weight) | 3 (25/28 patients) and not specified for the other patients | Naive | A, B | Pegylated interferon alpha 2b (1 μg/kg per week) |
| Ribavirin (10-12 mg/kg per day) | ||||||||
| Tekin et al[19] | Cohort study | 20 | 54.2 ± 5.9 | Not specified | 1 | Not specified | A, B | Pegylated interferon alpha 2a (135 μg/wk) |
| Ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/d) | ||||||||
| Moreno Planas et al[20] | Cohort study | 12 | 52 ± 8 | Not specified | 1, 3 | Naive and previously treated | A, B | Pegylated interferon alpha 2b (1.5 μg/kg per week) |
| Ribavirin (10.6 mg/kg per day) | ||||||||
| Di Marco et al[21] | Randomized controlled trial (pegylated interferon alpha 2B + ribavirin vs pegylated interferon alpha 2b) | 52 | 57 ± 6.6 | 71 ± 10.1 kg (mean weight) | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Naive and previously treated | A, B | Pegylated interferon alpha 2b (1 μg/kg per week) |
| Ribavirin (800 mg/d) | ||||||||
| Höroldt et al[22] | Retrospective cohort study | 61 | Not specified | Not specified | 1, 2, 3 | Naive | A, B | Pegylated interferon alpha 2a or alpha 2b + ribavirin |
| Bruno et al[23] | Randomized study | 106 | Not specified | Not specified | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Naive | A | Pegylated interferon alpha 2a (180 μg/wk) |
| Ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/d) | ||||||||
| Floreani et al[24] | Prospective cohort study | 87 | 55.7 ± 9.1 | 25.3 ± 3.1 kg/m² (mean BMI) | 1, 2, 3 | Naive | A | Pegylated interferon alpha 2b (80-100 μg/wk) |
| Ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/d) | ||||||||
| Annicchiarico et al[25] | Prospective cohort study | 15 | 51.5 | Not specified | 1, 2, 3 | Naive and previously treated | B, C | Pegylated interferon alpha 2b (1.5 μg/kg per week) |
| Ribavirin (800-1200 mg/d) | ||||||||
| Aghemo et al[26] | Prospective cohort study | 106 | 57 ± 9.3 | 72.5 ± 11.8 kg (mean weight) | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Naive | A | Pegylated interferon alpha 2b (1.5 μg/kg per week) |
| Ribavirin (≥ 10.6 mg/kg per day) | ||||||||
| Kim et al[27] | Cohort study | 86 | 56.4 ± 9.6 | Not specified | 1 and non-1 | Not specified | A | Pegylated interferon alpha 2b (1.5 μg/kg per week) |
| or Pegylated interferon alpha 2a (180 μg/wk) | ||||||||
| Ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/d) | ||||||||
| Reiberger et al[28] | Prospective cohort study | 90 | 51 ± 8 | 26.6 ± 5 kg/m² (mean BMI) | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Not specified | A | Pegylated interferon alpha 2b (1.5 μg/kg per week) |
| or pegylated interferon alpha 2a (180 μg/wk) | ||||||||
| Ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/d) |
HCV: Hepatitis C virus; BMI: Body mass index; IFN: Interferon.