PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Ong, Janus P.
AU  - Younossi, Zobair M.
TI  - Managing the hematologic side effects of antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C
DP  - 2004 May 01
TA  - Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
PG  - S17--S21
VI  - 71
IP  - 5 suppl 3
4099  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/71/5_suppl_3/S17.short
4100  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/71/5_suppl_3/S17.full
SO  - Cleve Clin J Med2004 May 01; 71
AB  - Hematologic abnormalities such as anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia are common during combination therapy with pegylated (or standard) interferon and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C. Ribavirin-induced hemolytic anemia is a common cause of dose reduction or discontinuation. Bone marrow suppression also contributes to the anemia and is the predominant mechanism for interferon-induced neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Although dose reduction or discontinuation of combination therapy can reverse these abnormalities, they may reduce virologic response. Hematopoietic growth factors may provide a useful alternative for managing these hematologic side effects without reducing the optimal dose of the combination antiviral regimen. Treatment of anemia also may improve patients’ health-related quality of life and their adherence to combination antiviral therapy. The impact of growth factors on sustained virologic response and their cost-effectiveness in patients with chronic hepatitis C need further assessment.