Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 2015, 22, 511

doi:10.1111/jvh.12357

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Antiviral treatment discontinuation among hepatitis C-infected individuals with thrombocytopenia Dear Editor, Pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with numerous adverse effects [1]. Many patients find PEG-IFN and RBV therapy difficult to tolerate (e.g. fatigue, depression and inability to concentrate) and, therefore, stop therapy prematurely. In other patients, antiviral therapy leads to objectively measureable adverse effects (e.g. haematological abnormalities) which render it potentially dangerous to continue the prescribed course. The extent to which thrombocytopenia, a prevalent haematological condition among patients with HCV infection [2], causes treatment discontinuation in clinical practice is unknown. We conducted a study to profile the reasons for premature discontinuation of antiviral therapy in HCV-infected patients who had thrombocytopenia (at least one recorded platelet count