Incidence of the most frequently occurring side effects in the placebo and pegylated interferon α (PegIFN) groups
| Adverse event | Placebo | PegIFN 0.5 µg/kg | PegIFN 1 µg/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haematological | |||
| Anamia | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| Leukopenia | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Thrombocytopenia | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hepatic | |||
| Elevation of bilirubin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gastrointestinal | |||
| Nausea | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Pancreatitis | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fever | 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Erythema at injection site | 0 | 10 | 5 |
| Flu-like symptoms | 2 | 11 | 11 |
| Hair loss | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Infections | |||
| Minor infection | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Major infection | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Headache | 0 | 7 | 4 |