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Rapid, early and sustained virological responses in a cohort of Irish patients treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C virus infection

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Abstract

Background

The response to the treatment with pegylated interferon (PEG IFN)-α combined with ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection varies with some patients having a rapid or early response which is not sustained.

Aims

To investigate the rates of rapid virological response (RVR), early virological response (EVR) and sustained virological response (SVR) in an Irish cohort of HCV infected patients receiving IFN-α/ribavirin.

Methods

Rates of RVR, EVR and SVR were examined in 123 patients undergoing standard treatment for chronic HCV infection between 2001 and 2007 at a Dublin Teaching Hospital.

Results

The rates of RVR, EVR and SVR in genotype 1 patients were 48, 68 and 50%, while in genotype 2/3 patients they were 87, 93 and 87%, respectively. The positive predictive values (PPV) of RVR for SVR in genotype 1 and genotype 2/3 patients were 90 and 92.4%, respectively.

Conclusion

The rates of response to PEG IFN-α/ribavirin in Irish patients are consistent with other international reports. We support the regular monitoring of rapid and early virological response as a standard of care in treating chronic hepatitis C patients.

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Abbreviations

RVR:

Rapid virological response

EVR:

Early virological response

ETR:

End of treatment response

SVR:

Sustained virological response

PPV:

Positive predictive value

NPV:

Negative predictive value

HCV:

Hepatitis C virus

PEG IFN-α:

Pegylated interferon-α

AST:

Aspartate aminotransferase

ALT:

Alanine aminotransferase

WCC:

White cell count

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to all study participants. The Hepatitis C Clinical Nurse Specialists, Carol McNulty, Aileen Murphy and Sheila O’Toole are acknowledged for their help and support during data collection. The Health Research Board provided funding. This study was funded by a Translational Research Award from the Irish Health Research Board. Prof. Aiden Mc Cormick has received honoraria from Merk & Janssen Cilag.

Conflict of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Liver Unit, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland

    S. Sarwar, M. Iqbal, P. A. McCormick & J. Hegarty

  2. School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College, Dublin 4, Ireland

    E. J. Ryan & C. O’Farrelly

  3. School of Biochemistry and Immunology and School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland

    C. O’Farrelly

Authors
  1. S. Sarwar
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  2. E. J. Ryan
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  3. M. Iqbal
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  4. P. A. McCormick
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  5. C. O’Farrelly
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  6. J. Hegarty
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Sarwar.

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Sarwar, S., Ryan, E.J., Iqbal, M. et al. Rapid, early and sustained virological responses in a cohort of Irish patients treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Ir J Med Sci 181, 53–58 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-011-0775-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-011-0775-4

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