Pregnancy Cat

Pregnancy Category C: Peginterferon alfa-2a monotherapy. There are no adequate and well controlled trial on pregnant women & developing fetus due to teratogenic effects. Peginterferon alfa-2a is recommended for use in women of childbearing potential only when they are using effective contraception during therapy.Pregnancy Category X. It is not known whether peginterferon or ribavirin or its components are excreted in human milk. Because of the potential for adverse reactions from the drugs in nursing infants, a decision must be made whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue peginterferon and ribavirin treatment.

Precautions

Patients who have failed alpha interferon treatment with or without ribavirin
Liver or other organ transplant recipients
Hepatitis B patients coinfected with HCV or HIV
Hepatitis C patients coinfected with HBV or coinfected with HIV with a CD4+ cell count < 100 cells/µL
Caution should be exercised in initiating treatment in any patient with baseline risk of severe anemia

Overdose Effects

There are limited experiences of overdose. There were no serious reactions attributed to overdose. There is no specific antidote. Dialysis is not effective.

Drug Classes

Hepatic viral infections (Hepatitis B), Hepatic viral infections (Hepatitis C)

Storage Conditions

Store in refrigerator at 2-8° C; do not freeze or shake. Protect from light.

Composition

n/a

Mode Of Action

Peginterferon alfa-2a are interferon proteins bound to polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules resulting in higher and more prolonged serum interferon concentrations. It has antiviral, antiproliferative and immune-regulating activity. Interferons are activated when it interacts with cells through high affinity cell surface receptors. The effects of this activation include the induction of gene transcription, inhibition of cellular growth, alteration of cellular differentiation, interference with oncogene expression, alteration of cell surface antigen expression, increase in phagocytic activity of macrophages and augmentation of cytotoxicity of lymphocytes for target cells.

Reconstitution

n/a