Randomized trial of peginterferon α-2a plus ribavirin versus peginterferon α-2b plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C in Japanese patients.

Background Pegylated interferon (PegIFN) plus ribavirin is the standard therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1. Although several randomized clinical trials have compared PegIFNα-2a with PegIFNα-2b, these 2 regimens have not been directly compared in Asian patients. We, therefore, compared the safety and antiviral efficacy of these agents in Japanese patients.