Korean J Gastroenterol.  2010 Jul;56(1):33-38. 10.4166/kjg.2010.56.1.33.

24 Weeks Treatment with Pegylated Interferon Alfa Plus Ribavirin May Be Possible in Genotype 1 Chronic Hepatitis C Patients with Rapid Virological Response Who Have Low Pretreatment Viremia

• Moon SS
• Kang HG
• Seo JA
• Jung EU
• Lee SH
• Park SJ
• Lee YJ
• Seol SY

• KMID: 1775876
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2010.56.1.33

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
The standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 is a combination of pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin over a 48 weeks period. It is unclear if 24 weeks treatment is possible for patients showing a rapid virological response (RVR) without compromising the sustained virological response (SVR) in Korea.
METHODS
Between June 2005 and September 2008, among patients chronically infected with the HCV genotype 1 who were treated with pegylated interferon alfa subcutaneously once weekly plus ribavirin based on body weight, 55 patients who had low pretreatment viral load (<600,000 IU/mL) and RVR were enrolled. A total of 55 patients were divided into 24 weeks treatment group (n=29) and the standard treatment group (n=26). The HCV RNA was quantitatively assessed before treatment, and after 12 weeks of treatment, and also qualitatively assessed after 4 weeks of treatment, at end of treatment (24 weeks), and 24 weeks after end of treatment. RVR was defined as undetectable HCV RNA at the 4 weeks of treatment.
RESULTS
Among the 55 patients, SVR was achieved in 100% (29/29) of the patients in 24 weeks treatment and 96.2% (25/26) of the patients in the standard treatment (p=0.473).
CONCLUSIONS
HCV genotype 1 infected patients with a low baseline HCV RNA concentration who become HCV RNA negative at week 4 may be treated for 24 weeks without compromising sustained virlolgical response. However, an additional trial will be needed to optimize the treatment duration.

Keyword

Hepatitis C; Short term treatment; Rapid virological response; Pegylated interferon; Ribavirin

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Antiviral Agents/*administration & dosage
Drug Administration Schedule
Drug Therapy, Combination
Female
Genotype
Hepacivirus/*genetics
Hepatitis C, Chronic/*drug therapy
Humans
Interferon Alfa-2a/*administration & dosage
Interferon Alfa-2b/*administration & dosage
Male
Middle Aged
Polyethylene Glycols/*administration & dosage
RNA, Viral/blood
Ribavirin/*administration & dosage
Viral Load
Viremia/diagnosis

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