potential of g-csf supplementation to counter the neutrophil effects of standard peg-ifnα plus ribavirin combination therapy for treating hcv-related cirrhosis

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of the granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) with pegylated interferon alpha (PEG-IFNα) plus ribavirin(RBV) and PEG-IFNα reduction in the treatment of the compensatory hepatitis C virus(HCV)-related cirrhosis . MethodsFourty-eight patients with compensatory HCV-related liver cirrhosis were devided into two groups: G-CSF with PEG-IFNα plus RBV and PEG-IFNα reduction. Another 28 patients who received standardized anti-virus therapy were taken as the control group. The rapid viral response (RVR), early virologic response (EVR), end-treatment virologic response (ETVR), sustained viral response (SVR) and recurrence after withdrawal were observed in the following 48 weeks. In addition, the recovery of liver function adverse reactions were recorded. Intergroup differences were assessed by ANOVA or Chi-squared test. ResultsThe rates of ETVR and SVR in GM-CSF with PEG-IFNα plus ribavirin group between standardized anti-virus therapy group was not statistically significant(P＞005). But the rates of ETVR and SVR in PEG-IFNα reduction group were lower than standardized anti-virus therapy group, and the difference was statistically significant(χ2=8266、4467，P＜005). The rates of ETVR and SVR in GM-CSF with PEG-IFNα plus ribavirin group were higher than PEG-IFNα reduction group, but lower than the latter in the rate of recurrence. The difference was statistically significant (χ2=4009,P＜005). ConclusionG-CSF with PEG-IFNα plus RBV was better than PEG-IFNα reduction in the treatment of compensated HCV-related liver cirrhosis.