Efficacy and Tolerability of Peginterferon Alpha Plus Ribavirin in the Routine Daily Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Patients in Korea: A Multi-Center, Retrospective Observational Study.
- Author:
Sang Hoon PARK
1
;
Choong Kee PARK
;
Jin Woo LEE
;
Young Seok KIM
;
Sook Hyang JEONG
;
Yun Soo KIM
;
Ju Hyun KIM
;
Seong Gyu HWANG
;
Kyu Sung RIM
;
Hyung Joon YIM
;
Jae Youn CHEONG
;
Sung Won CHO
;
June Sung LEE
;
Young Min PARK
;
Jeong Won JANG
;
Chun Kyon LEE
;
Joo Hyun SHON
;
Jin Mo YANG
;
Young Soo JU
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Multicenter Study ; Original Article
- Keywords:
Chronic hepatitis C;
Pegylated interferon alpha;
Ribavirin;
Korean
- MeSH:
Asian Continental Ancestry Group;
Genotype;
Hepacivirus;
Hepatitis C, Chronic;
Hepatitis, Chronic;
Hospitals, University;
Humans;
Male;
Medical Records;
Multivariate Analysis;
Retrospective Studies;
Ribavirin;
RNA
- From:Gut and Liver
2012;6(1):98-106
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of peginterferon plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients under real life setting in Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 758 CHC patients treated with peginterferon plus ribavirin between 2000 and 2008 from 14 university hospitals in the Gyeonggi-Incheon area in Korea. RESULTS: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 was detected in 61.2% of patients, while genotype 2 was detected in 35.5%. Baseline HCV RNA level was > or =6x10(5) IU/mL in 51.6% of patients. The sustained virological response (SVR) rate was 59.6% regardless of genotype; 53.6% in genotype 1 and 71.4% in genotype 2/3. On multivariate analysis, male gender (p=0.011), early virological response (p<0.001), genotype 2/3 (p<0.001), HCV RNA <6x10(5) IU/mL (p=0.005) and adherence to the drug >80% of the planned dose (p<0.001) were associated with SVR. The rate of premature discontinuation was 35.7%. The main reason for withdrawal was intolerance to the drug due to common adverse events or cytopenia (48.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the efficacy of peginterferon and ribavirin therapy in Koreans is better in Koreans than in Caucasians for the treatment of CHC, corroborating previous studies that have shown the superior therapeutic efficacy of this regimen in Asians.
