Research Article

CD49b, a Major Marker of Regulatory T-Cells Type 1, Predicts the Response to Antiviral Therapy of Recurrent Hepatitis C after Liver Transplantation

Figure 1

Design of the TRANSPEG study. All patients received Peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin. After 52 weeks of combination therapy, the patients were randomized to receive either ribavirin at the same dosage or a placebo for a further 52 weeks. All patients were followed up for 24 weeks after the end of treatment. The main time points in the analysis were: baseline, 52 weeks (end of combination therapy), 78 weeks (6 months after the end of combination therapy), and 130 weeks (end of follow-up). The primary efficacy endpoint was (1) sustained virological response, defined as undetectable serum HCV RNA. The secondary endpoints were changes from baseline histology findings as assessed by (2) the METAVIR activity and fibrosis score at 52, 78, and 130 weeks; (3) alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values over time; (4) the number of rejection episodes and the severity of rejection; (5) the occurrence of other severe antiviral-related adverse effects.
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