Treatment Response and Long-Term Outcome of Peginterferon α and Ribavirin Therapy in Korean Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C.
- Author:
Chang Ho JUNG
1
;
Soon Ho UM
;
Tae Hyung KIM
;
Sun Young YIM
;
Sang Jun SUH
;
Hyung Joon YIM
;
Yeon Seok SEO
;
Hyuk Soon CHOI
;
Hoon Jai CHUN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Hepatitis C virus clinical trials; Hepatitis C virus treatment; Hepatitis C; clinical; Viral hepatitis
- MeSH: Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Fibrosis; Follow-Up Studies; Genotype; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C, Chronic*; Hepatitis, Chronic*; Humans; Incidence; Korea; Liver Cirrhosis; Ribavirin*
- From:Gut and Liver 2016;10(5):808-817
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND/AIMS: Peginterferon plus ribavirin remains a standard therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in Korea. We investigated the efficacy and long-term outcome of peginterferon and ribavirin therapy in Korean patients with CHC, particularly in relation to the stage of liver fibrosis. METHODS: The incidence of sustained virological response (SVR), hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver-related death was analyzed in 304 patients with CHC; the patients were followed up for a median of 54 months. RESULTS: Among patients with HCV genotype 1, the SVR rate was 36.7% (18/49) and 67% (69/103) for patients with and without cirrhosis, respectively (p<0.001). For patients with non-1 HCV genotypes, the SVR rates were 86.0% (37/43) in cirrhotic patients and 86.2% (94/109) in noncirrhotic patients. SVR significantly reduced the risk of liver-related death, hepatic decompensation, and hepatocellular carcinoma, which had hazard ratios of 0.27, 0.16, and 0.22, respectively (all p<0.05). However, despite the SVR rate, patients with advanced fibrosis were still at risk of developing liver-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: A relatively high SVR rate was achieved by peginterferon plus ribavirin therapy in Korean patients with CHC, which improved their long-term outcomes. However, all CHC patients with advanced hepatic fibrosis should receive close follow-up observations, even after successful antiviral treatment.
