Sustained Virological Response In Hepatitis Research Articles

Hepatocellular carcinoma after sustained virologic response in hepatitis C patients without cirrhosis on a pretreatment liver biopsy

Among hepatitis C patients, lack of cirrhosis and sustained virologic response (SVR) reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Japanese studies document multiple cases of HCC among these patients, but only one case has been reported outside of Asia. We identified five patients with hepatitis C in our university-based hepatology practice who developed HCC despite SVR and lack of cirrhosis on their pretreatment liver biopsy. At the time of HCC diagnosis, two remained noncirrhotic, one had clearly progressed to cirrhosis, and two lacked repeat histology. We present these patients in a case series format and discuss several important implications of their cases. Physicians often base screening and treatment decisions on an initial liver biopsy performed years earlier. As fibrosis may advance, and because SVR and lack of cirrhosis do not fully protect against HCC, future study should further evaluate the risk of HCC among hepatitis C patients after sustained virologic response.

Predictors of sustained virologic response in hepatitis C genotype 4: beyond the usual suspects

Predictors of sustained virologic response in hepatitis C genotype 4: beyond the usual suspects

Effectiveness of interferon plus ribavirin combination in the treatment of naive patients with hepatitis C virus type 5. A French multicentre retrospective study

To assess the rate of sustained virological response in naïve hepatitis C virus-type 5 patients treated by standard interferon or pegylated-interferon [corrected] (peg-interferon) and ribavirin combination for 48 weeks. A total of 87 hepatitis C virus patients were included from 12 centres in France; 28 patients received interferon plus ribavirin and 59 were treated with peg-interferon plus ribavirin. Baseline characteristics were: mean age 58 +/- 11 years, sex ratio 1, 66% had metavir fibrosis score >or=F2, 21% were cirrhotics and 53% had pretherapeutic viral load >or=800,000 IU/mL. Sustained virological response was achieved in 64% and 58% of hepatitis C virus-5 patients treated with interferon and peg-interferon, respectively (NS). In adherent patients, sustained virological response was obtained in 75% of patients. Sustained virological response in hepatitis C virus-5 patients (60%) was significantly higher than sustained virological response in hepatitis C virus-1 patients (37%) (P = 0.0499) and not significantly different from sustained virological response in hepatitis C virus-2-3 patients (63%) (P = 0.8098). Combination therapy is effective in 60% of hepatitis C virus-5-infected patients. Sustained virological response seems better in hepatitis C virus-5 patients than in hepatitis C virus-1 patients, and is similar to that of hepatitis C virus-2-3 patients. More studies are needed to determine optimal duration of treatment in hepatitis C virus-5 patients.