Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of ribavirin ( RBV) combined with different doses of interferonα-2b ( IFN α-2b) in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotypes 2 and 3. Methods Forty- six patients who were admitted for chronic hepatitis C genotypes 2 and 3 from April 2009 to January 2012 were assigned to treatment group ( n = 24) and control group ( n = 22) . Both groups received intramuscular injection of IFN α- 2b at a dose of 6 MU once daily in the first month. In the second month, the treatment group received intramuscular injection of IFN α- 2b at a dose of 6 MU once every other day, and from the third month onwards, the treatment group received intramuscular injection of IFN α- 2b at a dose of 3 MU once every other day. The control group received intramuscular injection of IFN α-2b at a dose of 6 MU once every other day from the second month onwards. In addition, both groups received oral RBV ( 900- 1200 mg) three times daily for six months. The course of treatment was six months in both groups. The patients in the two groups who achieved end-of- treatment virologic response ( ETVR) were followed up at six months after the treatment, whereas those with no response ( NR) were treated for additional three months. Rapid viral response ( RVR) , early virologic response ( EVR) , ETVR, NR, and sustained virologic response ( SVR) were compared between the two groups after the treatment. The cost of treatment and adverse reactions were also compared between the two groups. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 11. 0, and comparison of numeration data between the two groups was conducted using the chi- square test. Results Both groups had high rates of RVR [15 ( 62. 50%) vs 13 ( 59. 09%) , χ2= 0. 056, P >0. 05], EVR [17 ( 70. 83%) vs 15 ( 68. 18%) , χ2= 0. 038, P > 0. 05], ETVR [20 ( 83. 33%) vs 19 ( 86. 36%) , χ2= 0. 082, P >0. 05], and SVR [18 ( 75. 00%) vs 17 ( 77. 27%) , χ2= 0. 033, P > 0. 05]. The rate of NR was low in the treatment group and control group [4 ( 16. 67%) vs 3 ( 13. 64%) , χ2= 0. 082, P > 0. 05]. The use of IFN α- 2b and cost of treatment in the treatment group were nearly 30% less than those in the control group, and the treatment group also experienced milder adverse reactions. Conclusion For patients with chronic hepatitis C genotypes 2 and 3, RBV combined with IFN α- 2b at an induction dose can lead to relatively high rates of RVR and EVR, and RBV plus IFN α- 2b at a maintenance dose can also result in relatively high rates of ETVR and SVR, thereby helping to reduce financial burden on patients and minimize adverse reactions.
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