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.
- Author:
Sung Soo MOON
1
;
Hyoun Gu KANG
;
Jeong Ah SEO
;
Eun Uk JUNG
;
Sang Heon LEE
;
Sung Jae PARK
;
Youn Jae LEE
;
Sang Yong SEOL
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Reports ; English Abstract
- Keywords: Hepatitis C; Short term treatment; Rapid virological response; Pegylated interferon; Ribavirin
- MeSH: 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
- From:The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology 2010;56(1):33-38
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
- 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.
