Interferon and ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 6: a comparison with genotype 1.
Because there is a lack of data on the treatment outcome of patients who carry hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 6, we conducted a prospective study, to compare the effect of interferon and ribavirin therapy in HCV genotypes 1 and 6, of patients with seropositive anti-HCV, persistently elevated alanine transaminase levels, and detectable HCV RNA. Patients were treated with subcutaneous recombinant interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin for 12 months. Of 40 patients, 16 had genotype 6, and 24 had genotype 1. An end-of-treatment response was detected in 12 (75%) patients with genotype 6 and in 10 (41.6%) patients with genotype 1 (P=.05). A sustained virological response (SVR) was present in 10 (62.5%) patients with genotype 6 and in 7 (29.2%) patients with genotype 1 (P=.04). Genotype 6 has a better response than genotype 1 and is associated with a higher SVR.
Hui
Chee-Kin
CK
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
Yuen
Man-Fung
MF
Sablon
Erwin
E
Chan
Annie On-On
AO
Wong
Benjamin Chun-Yu
BC
Lai
Ching-Lung
CL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005814:Genes, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin