Low-Dose Pegylated Interferon α-2b Plus Ribavirin for Elderly and/or Cirrhotic Patients with Genotype 2 Hepatitis C Virus.
- Author:
Hideyuki TAMAI
1
;
Naoki SHINGAKI
;
Yoshiyuki MORI
;
Kosaku MORIBATA
;
Akira KAWASHIMA
;
Yoshimasa MAEDA
;
Toru NIWA
;
Hisanobu DEGUCHI
;
Izumi INOUE
;
Takao MAEKITA
;
Mikitaka IGUCHI
;
Jun KATO
;
Masao ICHINOSE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Liver cirrhosis; Elderly; Hepacivirus; Pegylated interferon; Ribavirin
- MeSH: Aged*; Female; Genotype*; Hepacivirus*; Hepatitis C*; Hepatitis*; Humans; Interferons*; Liver Cirrhosis; Male; Ribavirin*; RNA; Sensitivity and Specificity
- From:Gut and Liver 2016;10(4):617-623
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- 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.
