Pegylated α interferon 2B plus ribavirin in the treatment of HCV genotype 4 infection

To evaluate safety and efficacy of Peg-INF combined with ribavirin for genotype 4 infected children. Seven children were included, five were infected parentrally, One vertically and one had both exposures. Clinical and laboratory evaluation were undertaken as well as quantitative PCR for HCV RNA before therapy at, 12, 24 and 52 weeks during treatment and one year after therapy. Liver biopsy was performed before and at the end of therapy. Four children had low and three had moderate viremia. At twelve weeks, two children (28.6%) lost viremia. Another child lost viremia at 52 weeks. ETR was 42.9%. During follow up one relapsed, thus SVR was 28.6%. Children with SVR were the youngest, their mean duration of infection was 4.5 vs 12.7 years in the others. Side effects of both INF & ribavirin was mild, required no reduction in doses. Combination therapy of peg interferon-alpha with ribavirin is well tolerated in children and adolescents studied.