Efficacy of Interferon A-2b monotherapy in Β-thalassemics with chronic hepatitis C.

Background & Aims: Monotherapy with standard or pegylated interferon (PegIFN) remains the first-line treatment for HCV infection in patients with thalassemia major (βTM), although its long-term impact is still unknown. We aimed to assess the efficacy of IFN-a2b/PegIFN-a2b (one or multiple treatment sessions) and the predictors for sustained virological response (SVR) in HCV-infected βTM patients.

Methods: Between 11/1992 and 12/2013 [median follow-up: 165.