Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this study was to determine the rate of sustained virological response (SVR) and various factors associated with response rates in chronic hepatitis C infected patients treated with interferon alpha and ribavirin combination therapy.MethodsA retrospective review of patients data collected at this Centre from 2001 to 2007 was performed. Out of 731 consecutive patients 400 patients that fulfilled the study criteria were evaluated and subsequently treated with a combination of interferon alpha 2b (3 MU subcutaneously three injections weekly) and ribavirin (800–1200 mg orally daily). Treatment were administered for either 24 weeks or 48 weeks and patients were followed for an additional 6 months thereafter. End of the treatment response (ETR), SVR and side effects were recorded.ResultsOut of 400 patients, 394 completed the entire treatment course and six patients discontinued treatment at month 2. Over 67% responded at the end of treatment and 16% suffered relapse. Among all treated patients, 47.6% males and 56.7% females had sustained viral response with a total combined sustained viral response rate of 50.5%. Rapid response was seen in 46.5% patients. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, slow virological responders (adjusted OR 2.6 [95% CI 1.9–3.7]), HCV genotype 1&4 (adjusted OR 2.4 [95% CI 1.7–3.5]), pre-treatment viral load > 0.2 MIU/mL (adjusted OR 2.2 [95% CI 1.8–4.2]), Panjabi ethnic group (adjusted OR 1.6 [95% CI 1.0–3.2]) and Age > 40 years (adjusted OR 1.5 [95% CI 0.9–2.4]) were independent risk factors for non response. Side effects were usual and tolerable and only 1.5% discontinued the treatment.ConclusionThe best positive predictor for SVR in this country are: rapid virologic response, HCV genotype 2 & 3, age < 40 years, ethnic race Pashtoons and pre-treatment viral load < 0.2 million IU/mL.
Highlights
The aim of this study was to determine the rate of sustained virological response (SVR) and various factors associated with response rates in chronic hepatitis C infected patients treated with interferon alpha and ribavirin combination therapy
We focused our study on naïve patients that had not previously received antiviral treatment and who presented with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes non-1 and 1
Study enrolments and disposition of patients Four hundreds patients with chronic HCV who fulfilled the study criteria were enrolled for this study from an initial pool of 731 patients (Figure 1)
Summary
The aim of this study was to determine the rate of sustained virological response (SVR) and various factors associated with response rates in chronic hepatitis C infected patients treated with interferon alpha and ribavirin combination therapy. Treatment with either IFN-α alone or in combination with ribavirin leads to a sustained virological response (SVR) in 20% to 56% of patients with chronic hepatitis C [4,5]. The combination of interferon and ribavirin is the preferred treatment and achieves a better response than interferon or ribavirin alone [6] Nonresponse to this therapy remains common and is associated with several factors such as HCV genotype, duration of a person's HCV infection and HCV viral load in addition to host factors such as sex, HLA type and cytokine polymorphisms [7,8]. The strongest predictors for a SVR to treatment is the HCV genotype, with HCV genotype 1 (HCV-1) being the least sensitive to IFN-α based therapy [11,12]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
