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Prediction of Sustained Virological Response to Combination Therapy with Pegylated Interferon Alfa and Ribavirin in Patients with Genotype 3 Chronic Hepatitis C

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Abstract

Background

Sustained virological response (SVR) rates in patients with hepatitis C are heterogeneous and are influenced by a wide range of host and viral factors.

Aim

To evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy with pegylated interferon alfa (PEG-IFN-α) and ribavirin (RBV), and document the SVR rates taking into consideration various predictive factors in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) genotype 3.

Methods

Ninety-seven treatment-naive patients with CHC genotype 3 (mean age 41.46 ± 11.51 years, M:F ratio 79:18), who received a combination of PEG-IFN (α-2a or α-2b) and RBV were retrospectively analyzed (2006–2008) for the early virological response (EVR) at 12 weeks, end of treatment response (ETR), and SVR at 6 months.

Results

Eighty-four (86.6%) patients achieved EVR and 81 (83.5%) achieved ETR, while SVR was achieved in 65 (67.0%) patients. Of the 84 patients who achieved EVR, 77 (91.7%) achieved ETR and 61 (72.6%) achieved SVR at 6 months. Age and body mass index (BMI) were found to be important predictors (*P < 0.05) of SVR. CHC patients with a history of alcohol intake showed decreased SVR (52%) (*P = 0.035) as compared to nonalcoholics (80%). Cirrhotic versus noncirrhotic patients showed no difference in SVR (54.5% vs. 70.7%) (P = 0.157). Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P = 0.169) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels (P = 0.42) also did not have an influence on the SVR.

Conclusion

Combination therapy with PEG-IFN-α and RBV demonstrated good tolerability in CHC genotype 3 infection. Age, BMI, and alcohol consumption play an important role in determining treatment outcome.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hepatology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India

    S. K. Tohra, S. Taneja, S. Ghosh, B. K. Sharma, A. Duseja, R. K. Dhiman & Y. K. Chawla

  2. Department of Histopathology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India

    A. Das

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  1. S. K. Tohra
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Correspondence to Y. K. Chawla.

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Tohra, S.K., Taneja, S., Ghosh, S. et al. Prediction of Sustained Virological Response to Combination Therapy with Pegylated Interferon Alfa and Ribavirin in Patients with Genotype 3 Chronic Hepatitis C. Dig Dis Sci 56, 2449–2455 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-011-1770-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-011-1770-3

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