Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 13, 2026

Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Adjuvant Efficacy and Safety of Angong Niuhuang Pill in Viral Encephalitis Treatment
08:36

Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Adjuvant Efficacy and Safety of Angong Niuhuang Pill in Viral Encephalitis Treatment

Published on: April 19, 2024

1.4K

Systematic review with meta-analysis: comparison between therapeutic regimens for paediatric chronic hepatitis C

A El Sherbini1, S Mostafa2, E Ali1

  • 1Research Unit, Tanta Fever Hospital, Tanta, Egypt.

Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
|May 1, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Treating children with chronic hepatitis C using pegylated interferon alfa plus ribavirin showed better results but also more side effects. Further research is needed for better pediatric hepatitis C therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology
  • Viral Hepatitis Research
  • Pharmacotherapy Outcomes

Background:

  • Chronic hepatitis C treatment in children remains a complex clinical decision.
  • Optimal therapeutic strategies for pediatric hepatitis C are under continuous evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the effectiveness and outcomes of different hepatitis C therapies in children.
  • Evaluate treatment regimens including interferon alfa and pegylated interferon alfa, with or without ribavirin.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of clinical trials assessing sustained virological response rates in pediatric patients.
  • Data extraction focused on therapeutic regimens: interferon alfa ± ribavirin and pegylated interferon alfa ± ribavirin.
  • Analysis included genotype-specific response rates and adverse event profiles.

Main Results:

  • Pegylated interferon alfa plus ribavirin demonstrated higher sustained virological response rates compared to interferon alfa plus ribavirin for genotypes 1, 2, and 3.
  • Treatment with pegylated interferon alfa plus ribavirin showed improved outcomes for genotypes 1 and 2/3 compared to monotherapy.
  • Higher adverse event rates were observed with pegylated interferon alfa plus ribavirin compared to interferon alfa plus ribavirin.

Conclusions:

  • While pegylated interferon alfa plus ribavirin is more effective than interferon alfa plus ribavirin for pediatric chronic hepatitis C, its higher adverse events and modest outcomes for genotypes 1 and 4 suggest suboptimal therapy.
  • The findings highlight the need for direct-acting antiviral drug trials in children with chronic hepatitis C.
Abstract

More Related Videos

A Protocol for Analyzing Hepatitis C Virus Replication13:04

A Protocol for Analyzing Hepatitis C Virus Replication

Published on: June 26, 2014

24.8K
Author Spotlight: Evaluating Therapeutic Strategies to Enhance Liver Regeneration05:25

Author Spotlight: Evaluating Therapeutic Strategies to Enhance Liver Regeneration

Published on: May 24, 2024

4.1K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
354
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test01:22

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test

In clinical practice, the direct measurement of hepatic blood flow to evaluate liver function presents significant challenges due to the intricate and specialized nature of the necessary techniques. Consequently, healthcare professionals often rely on empirical estimates derived from thorough patient examinations and liver function tests to gauge liver health. Among the tools at their disposal, the Child–Pugh and MELD scoring systems stand out for their ability to categorize and assess...
263
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
389
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
829
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
499
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Active Drug, Metabolite and Fraction of Metabolized Drug01:14

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Active Drug, Metabolite and Fraction of Metabolized Drug

In pharmacotherapy, monitoring drug concentrations is paramount, especially for drugs whose therapeutic effects hinge on both the active compound and its metabolite. Hepatic impairment profoundly influences drug potency by altering liver function. If the drug is more potent than its metabolite, impaired liver function amplifies drug activity due to elevated drug concentration levels. Conversely, if the metabolite holds greater potency, diminished liver function diminishes drug activity by...
324