Peginterferon Alfa 2a

Peginterferon Alfa 2a Brand Names

Pegasys | Pegasys ProClick

What is Peginterferon Alfa 2a

Peginterferon alfa 2a is approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in patients 5 years and older, and for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in patients 3 years and older.

The drug is a highly purified protein containing 165 amino acids (recombinant interferon alfa-2a) that is covalently conjugated with bis-monomethoxy polyethylene glycol (PEG).

Interferon alfa 2a represents only one specific subtype of alpha interferon (i.e., interferon alpha-2) and is produced by recombinant DNA technology that uses a genetically engineered Escherichia coli bacterium containing DNA that codes for the protein.

By increasing the size of the molecule with PEG (average molecular weight of 60,000 daltons), the absorption and half-life are prolonged, and the clearance is decreased.

The safety of peginterferon alfa 2a is comparable to interferon alfa-2a; however, the tolerability is increased.

Indications

1. adenovirus
2. encephalomyocarditis virus
3. hepatitis B infection
4. hepatitis B virus
5. hepatitis C infection
6. hepatitis C virus
7. hepatitis D virus
8. herpes simplex virus type 1
9. herpes simplex virus type 2
10. human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
11. human papillomavirus (HPV)
12. human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)
13. poliovirus
14. rhinovirus
15. varicella-zoster virus
16. variola virus (smallpox)
17. vesicular stomatitis virus

Side Effects

1. abdominal pain
2. alopecia
3. anaphylactic shock
4. anaphylactoid reactions
5. anemia
6. anemia
7. angina
8. angioedema
9. anorexia
10. antibody formation
11. anxiety
12. aplastic anemia
13. arthralgia
14. asthenia
15. autoimmune disease
16. back pain
17. blurred vision
18. bronchiolitis obliterans
19. bronchospasm
20. bullous rash
21. chest pain (unspecified)
22. cholangitis
23. colitis
24. coma
25. corneal erosion
26. cough
27. dehydration
28. depression
29. diabetes mellitus
30. diaphoresis
31. diarrhea
32. dizziness
33. dyspepsia
34. dyspnea
35. eczema vaccinatum
36. elevated hepatic enzymes
37. emotional lability
38. epistaxis
39. erythema multiforme
40. exfoliative dermatitis
41. fatigue
42. fever
43. GI bleeding
44. hallucinations
45. headache
46. hearing loss
47. hepatic failure
48. hyperbilirubinemia
49. hyperglycemia
50. hypertension
51. hyperthyroidism
52. hypertriglyceridemia
53. hypoglycemia
54. hypothyroidism
55. impaired cognition
56. infection
57. influenza
58. injection site reaction
59. insomnia
60. interstitial nephritis
61. irritability
62. lupus-like symptoms
63. lymphopenia
64. macular edema
65. memory impairment
66. myalgia
67. myocardial infarction
68. nausea
69. neutropenia
70. neutropenia
71. optic neuritis
72. pancreatitis
73. pancytopenia
74. papilledema
75. peptic ulcer
76. peripheral neuropathy
77. pharyngitis
78. pneumonitis
79. pruritus
80. psoriasis
81. psychosis
82. pulmonary embolism
83. pulmonary hypertension
84. rash
85. red cell aplasia
86. retinal detachment
87. retinal hemorrhage
88. retinal thrombosis
89. retinopathy
90. seizures
91. steatosis
92. Stevens-Johnson syndrome
93. stroke
94. suicidal ideation
95. thrombocytopenia
96. thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
97. tongue discoloration
98. urticaria
99. vesicular rash
100. visual impairment
101. vomiting
102. weight loss
103. xerosis
104. xerostomia

Monitoring Parameters

• CBC with differential
• chest x-ray
• ECG
• hemoglobin/hematocrit
• LFTs
• ophthalmologic exam
• plasma hepatitis C RNA
• pregnancy testing
• serum creatinine/BUN
• serum uric acid
• thyroid function tests (TFTs)

Contraindications

• alcoholism
• anemia
• angina
• aplastic anemia
• autoimmune disease
• benzyl alcohol hypersensitivity
• bipolar disorder
• bleeding
• bone marrow suppression
• breast-feeding
• cardiac arrhythmias
• cardiac disease
• cardiomyopathy
• cerebrovascular disease
• children
• colitis
• contraception requirements
• coronary artery disease
• dental disease
• dental work
• depression
• diabetes mellitus
• diabetic retinopathy
• dialysis
• driving or operating machinery
• E. coli protein hypersensitivity
• encephalopathy
• ethanol ingestion
• geriatric
• Graves’ disease
• growth inhibition
• hepatic decompensation
• hepatic disease
• hepatitis
• hepatitis B exacerbation
• hepatitis C and HIV coinfection
• human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• hyperglycemia
• hypertension
• hyperthyroidism
• hypertriglyceridemia
• hypoglycemia
• hypothyroidism
• immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
• infants
• infection
• infertility
• ischemic colitis
• jaundice
• mania
• menstrual irregularity
• myocardial infarction
• neonates
• neurologic events
• neutropenia
• ocular disease
• optic neuritis
• organ transplant
• pancreatitis
• papilledema
• peripheral neuropathy
• pneumonitis
• pregnancy
• pregnancy testing
• psoriasis
• psychiatric event
• psychosis
• pulmonary disease
• pulmonary hypertension
• renal failure
• renal impairment
• respiratory insufficiency
• retinal bleeding
• retinal detachment
• rheumatoid arthritis
• sarcoidosis
• seizure disorder
• seizures
• serious hypersensitivity reactions or anaphylaxis
• serious rash
• sickle cell disease
• stroke
• substance abuse
• suicidal ideation
• systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• thalassemia
• thrombocytopenia
• thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
• thyroid disease
• ulcerative colitis
• use with ribavirin
• vaccination
• visual disturbance

Interactions

• Abacavir
• Abacavir; Dolutegravir; Lamivudine
• Abacavir; Lamivudine, 3TC
• Abacavir; Lamivudine, 3TC; Zidovudine, ZDV
• Aldesleukin, IL-2
• Alemtuzumab
• Alteplase
• Altretamine
• Amprenavir
• Antithymocyte Globulin
• Antitumor antibiotics
• Arsenic Trioxide
• Atazanavir
• Atazanavir; Cobicistat
• Azathioprine
• Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Vaccine, BCG
• Basiliximab
• Bictegravir; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir Alafenamide
• Chloroquine
• Darunavir
• Darunavir; Cobicistat
• Darunavir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir alafenamide
• Dasabuvir; Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir
• Delavirdine
• Dexamethasone
• Dolutegravir; Lamivudine
• Dolutegravir; Rilpivirine
• Doravirine; Lamivudine; Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
• Efalizumab
• Efavirenz
• Efavirenz; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir
• Efavirenz; Lamivudine; Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
• Elvitegravir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir Alafenamide
• Elvitegravir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
• Emtricitabine
• Emtricitabine; Rilpivirine; Tenofovir alafenamide
• Emtricitabine; Rilpivirine; Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
• Emtricitabine; Tenofovir alafenamide
• Emtricitabine; Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
• Entecavir
• Estramustine
• Ethanol
• Filgrastim, G-CSF
• Folate analogs
• Fosamprenavir
• Hydroxyurea
• Ibritumomab Tiuxetan
• Imatinib
• Indinavir
• Influenza Virus Vaccine
• Intranasal Influenza Vaccine
• Lamivudine, 3TC
• Lamivudine, 3TC; Zidovudine, ZDV
• Lamivudine; Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
• Live Vaccines
• Lomustine, CCNU
• Lopinavir; Ritonavir
• Measles Virus; Mumps Virus; Rubella Virus; Varicella Virus Vaccine, Live
• Measles/Mumps/Rubella Vaccines, MMR
• Melphalan
• Methadone
• Methotrexate
• Methoxsalen
• Methylprednisolone
• Mitoxantrone
• Natural Antineoplastics
• Nelfinavir
• Nevirapine
• Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir
• Pegfilgrastim
• Pemetrexed
• Pexidartinib
• Pralatrexate
• Prednisolone
• Prednisone
• Protease inhibitors
• Purine analogs
• Reteplase, r-PA
• Rilpivirine
• Riluzole
• Ritonavir
• Rotavirus Vaccine
• Rubella Virus Vaccine Live
• Saquinavir
• Smallpox and Monkeypox Vaccine, Live, Nonreplicating
• Smallpox Vaccine, Vaccinia Vaccine
• Stavudine, d4T
• Streptokinase
• Tbo-Filgrastim
• Telbivudine
• Tenecteplase
• Theophylline, Aminophylline
• Thrombolytic Agents
• Tipranavir
• Tositumomab
• Tretinoin, ATRA
• Typhoid Vaccine
• Urokinase
• Varicella-Zoster Virus Vaccine, Live
• Vigabatrin
• Yellow Fever Vaccine, Live
• Zalcitabine, ddC
• Zidovudine, ZDV