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Article
Assessment of Side Effects in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Receiving Combination Therapy
Gastroenterology Nursing (2001)
  • Donna M. Zucker, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
  • Barry W. Miller, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Abstract

This purpose of this descriptive study is to review the adverse effects of combination therapy, interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin, in a sample of patients with chronic hepatitis C who were part of a larger multi-center trial. The sample (n=13) was drawn from one hepatology practice in the northeastern U.S. This secondary analysis reported sums, frequencies, means and standard deviations for the sample. Patients who received 600 mg. ribavirin per day in addition to interferon alfa-2B (Arm A) showed a mean of 9.5 different types of side effects. Patients who received 1000-1200 mg of ribavirin in addition to interferon alfa-2B (Arm B) had a mean of 8.6 different types of side effects. The highest ranking side effects were fatigue, insomnia, alopecia and arthralgia. A secondary analysis of the entire data set is required before confidence can be placed in the findings.

Disciplines
Publication Date
January, 2001
Citation Information
Donna M. Zucker and Barry W. Miller. "Assessment of Side Effects in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Receiving Combination Therapy" Gastroenterology Nursing Vol. 24 Iss. 4 (2001)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/donna_zucker/11/