Gut Liver.  2016 Jul;10(4):617-623. 10.5009/gnl15193.

Low-Dose Pegylated Interferon α-2b Plus Ribavirin for Elderly and/or Cirrhotic Patients with Genotype 2 Hepatitis C Virus

• Tamai H
• Shingaki N
• Mori Y
• Moribata K
• Kawashima
• Maeda Y
• Niwa T
• Deguchi H
• Inoue I
• Maekita T
• Iguchi M
• Kato J
• Ichinose M

• KMID: 2412052
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5009/gnl15193

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
This study aimed to predict sustained viral response (SVR) to low-dose pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin of elderly and/or cirrhotic patients with genotype 2 hepatitis C virus (HCV) using viral response within 2 weeks.
METHODS
Low-dose PEG-IFN-α-2b plus ribavirin was administered to 50 elderly and/or cirrhotic patients with genotype 2 HCV for 24 weeks. The dynamics of HCV RNA and HCV core antigen levels within 2 weeks were measured.
RESULTS
The patients' median age was 66 years. There were 21 male and 29 female patients. The median baseline HCV RNA level was 5.7 log IU/mL. Rapid viral response was achieved in 17 patients (34%), SVR in 28 (56%), and two (4%) discontinued treatment. Univariate analysis of factors contributing to SVR showed significant differences for sex, baseline virus level, and response within 4 weeks. When 40 fmol/L was set as the cutoff value for the core antigen level at 1 week, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy for predicting SVR were 93%, 75%, 84%, 88%, and 85%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Low-dose PEG-IFN plus ribavirin was a safe and cost-effective treatment for elderly and/or cirrhotic patients with genotype 2 HCV, and the viral response within 2 weeks was a useful predictor of SVR.

Keyword

Liver cirrhosis; Elderly; Hepacivirus; Pegylated interferon; Ribavirin

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Antiviral Agents/*administration & dosage/adverse effects
Drug Administration Schedule
Drug Therapy, Combination
Female
Hepatitis C, Chronic/*drug therapy
Humans
Interferon-alpha/*administration & dosage/adverse effects
Liver Cirrhosis/*drug therapy
Male
Middle Aged
Polyethylene Glycols/*administration & dosage/adverse effects
ROC Curve
Recombinant Proteins/administration & dosage/adverse effects
Ribavirin/*administration & dosage/adverse effects
Treatment Outcome
Antiviral Agents
Interferon-alpha
Recombinant Proteins
Polyethylene Glycols
Ribavirin