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Role of growth factors and thrombopoietic agents in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Tillmann, HL; Patel, K; McHutchison, JG
Published in: Curr Gastroenterol Rep
February 2009

Advanced liver disease and interferon-based treatment are both associated with varying degrees of cytopenia in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Growth factors to increase hemoglobin and neutrophils are commonly used in clinical practice, despite the absence of data to indicate benefits in terms of sustained viral response. Thrombocytopenia is observed frequently, is multi-factorial in etiology, and may result in significant limitations on interventional and therapeutic options. A small-molecule thrombopoietin mimetic, eltrombo-pag, has demonstrated a dose-response associated increase in platelet count in a phase 2 study, allowing initiation and completion of a 12-week course of peginterferon plus ribavirin in 36%, 53%, and 65% of patients receiving 30 mg, 50 mg, or 75 mg of eltrombopag daily, respectively, compared with 6% in the placebo arm. Phase 3 studies are currently evaluating whether initiating and maintaining antiviral therapy with eltrombopag will lead to an increase in sustained virologic response in chronic hepatitis C infection.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Curr Gastroenterol Rep

DOI

EISSN

1534-312X

Publication Date

February 2009

Volume

11

Issue

1

Start / End Page

5 / 14

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Thrombopoiesis
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • Ribavirin
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Pyrazoles
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Platelet Count
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Interferon alpha-2
 

Citation

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Tillmann, H. L., Patel, K., & McHutchison, J. G. (2009). Role of growth factors and thrombopoietic agents in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Curr Gastroenterol Rep, 11(1), 5–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-009-0002-x
Tillmann, Hans L., Keyur Patel, and John G. McHutchison. “Role of growth factors and thrombopoietic agents in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.Curr Gastroenterol Rep 11, no. 1 (February 2009): 5–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-009-0002-x.
Tillmann HL, Patel K, McHutchison JG. Role of growth factors and thrombopoietic agents in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2009 Feb;11(1):5–14.
Tillmann, Hans L., et al. “Role of growth factors and thrombopoietic agents in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.Curr Gastroenterol Rep, vol. 11, no. 1, Feb. 2009, pp. 5–14. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s11894-009-0002-x.
Tillmann HL, Patel K, McHutchison JG. Role of growth factors and thrombopoietic agents in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2009 Feb;11(1):5–14.
Journal cover image

Published In

Curr Gastroenterol Rep

DOI

EISSN

1534-312X

Publication Date

February 2009

Volume

11

Issue

1

Start / End Page

5 / 14

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Thrombopoiesis
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • Ribavirin
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Pyrazoles
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Platelet Count
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Interferon alpha-2