Adverse events reported by patients in the three groups who received peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin for 24, 36, or 48 weeks
| Adverse event | Group A (24 weeks) (n = 95) | Group B (36 weeks) (n = 96) | Group C (48 weeks) (n = 96) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fatigue | 56 (60) | 59 (64) | 62 (66) |
| Influenza-like illness | 53 (57) | 58 (63) | 59 (63) |
| Headache | 49 (53) | 52 (57) | 58 (62) |
| Myalgia | 48 (52) | 52 (57) | 58 (62) |
| Pyrexia | 41 (44) | 50 (54) | 53 (62) |
| Insomnia | 31(33) | 35 (38) | 46 (49) |
| Injection site erythema | 28 (30) | 34 (37) | 39 (42) |
| Irritability | 26 (28) | 33 (36) | 30 (32) |
| Back pain | 23 (25) | 25 (27) | 29 (31) |
| Rigors | 16 (17) | 17 (18) | 21 (22) |
| Sore throat | 13 (14) | 16 (17) | 20 (21) |
| Cough | 12 (13) | 15 (16) | 20 (21) |
| Pruritus | 10 (11) | 15 (16) | 18 (19) |
| Anorexia | 9 (10) | 14 (15) | 18 (19) |
| Arthralgia | 8 (9) | 12 (13) | 17 (18) |
| Dyspnoea | 8 (9) | 11 (12) | 15 (16) |
| Rash | 7 (8) | 10 (11) | 12 (13) |
| Depression | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | 9 (9) |
| Dry mouth | 5 (5) | 7 (8) | 8 (9) |
| Alopecia | 4 (4) | 6 (7) | 7 (7) |
| Nausea | 4 (4) | 4 (4) | 7 (7) |
| Dizziness | 3 (3) | 5 (5) | 6 (6) |
| Abdominal pain | 3 (3) | 5 (5) | 7 (7) |
| Dry skin | 2 (2) | 6 (7) | 7 (7) |
| Diarrhoea | 2 (2) | 6 (7) | 8 (9) |
| Vomiting | 1 (2) | 3 (3) | 5 (5) |
| Discontinuation of therapy (n (%)) | |||
| Haematological abnormalities | 1 (2) | 2 (2) | |
| Psychiatric | 0 | 0 | 3 (3) |
| Hypothyroidism | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) |
| Reduction or omission of 1–2 doses for adverse events or laboratory abnormalities | |||
| PEG-IFN-α-2b | 5 (5) | 11 (12) | 12 (13) |
| Ribavirin | 9 (10) | 13 (14) | 18 (19) |