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- Title
Factors contributing to ribavirin-induced anemia.
- Authors
NOMURA, HIDEYUKI; TANIMOTO, HIRONORI; KAJIWARA, EIJI; SHIMONO, JUNYA; MARUYAMA, TOSHIHIRO; YAMASHITA, NOBUYUKI; NAGANO, MASANORI; HIGASHI, MASASHI; MUKAI, TAMOTSU; MATSUI, YUTAKA; HAYASHI, JUN; KASHIWAGI, SEIZABURO; ISHIBASHI, HIROMI
- Abstract
Interferon and ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C produces hemolytic anemia. This study was conducted to identify the factors contributing to ribavirin-induced anemia.Eighty-eight patients with chronic hepatitis C who received interferon-α-2b at a dose of 6 MU administered intramuscularly for 24 weeks in combination with ribavirin administered orally at a dose of 600 mg or 800 mg participated in the study. A hemoglobin concentration of<10 g/dL was defined as ribavirin-induced anemia.Ribavirin-induced anemia occurred in 18 (20.5%) patients during treatment. A 2 g/dL decrease in hemoglobin concentrations in patients with anemia was observed at week 2 after the start of treatment. The hemoglobin concentration in patients with≥2 g/dL decrease at week 2 was observed to be significantly lower even after week 2 than in patients with<2 g/dL decrease (P < 0.01). A significant relationship was observed between the rate of reduction of hemoglobin concentrations at week 2 and the severity of anemia (P < 0.01). Such factors as sex (female), age (≥60 years old), and the ribavirin dose by body weight (12 mg/kg or more) were significant by univariate analysis.Careful administration is necessary in patients≥60 years old, in female patients, and in patients receiving a ribavirin dose of 12 mg/kg or more. Patients who experience a fall in hemoglobin concentrations of 2 g/dL or more at week 2 after the start of treatment should be monitored with particular care.
- Subjects
ANEMIA; RIBAVIRIN; ANTIVIRAL agents; DRUG side effects; HEPATITIS C treatment; HEMOGLOBINS
- Publication
Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2004, Vol 19, Issue 11, p1312
- ISSN
0815-9319
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1440-1746.2004.03459.x