Peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin for treatment of chronic hepatitis C in previously untreated patients infected with HCV genotypes 2 or 3.
OBJECTIVE
Treatment duration in patients with chronic hepatitis C in the era of standard interferon-alpha plus ribavirin was tailored according to hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype: patients infected with HCV-1 were treated for 48 weeks, patients infected with HCV-2/3 for 24 weeks. The aim of the present study was to investigate this schedule for HCV-2/3 infected patients in the era of pegylated interferon-alpha plus ribavirin.


METHODS
Patients chronically infected with HCV-2 (n=42) or HCV-3 (n=182) were treated with peginterferon alfa-2b 1.5 microg/kg subcutaneously once weekly plus ribavirin 800-1400 mg/day based on body weight for 24 weeks.


RESULTS
The end of treatment (EOT) and sustained virologic response (SVR) was higher in patients infected with HCV-2 (100 and 93%, respectively) than in patients infected with HCV-3 (93 and 79%, respectively). Baseline viremia (P=0.020), treatment duration >16 weeks (P<0.001) and steatosis (<5%, P=0.015) were significant independent predictors of SVR. Adverse events resulted in discontinuation in 5% and dose reduction in 22% of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment for 24 weeks with peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin is sufficient in HCV 2 or 3 infected patients. The lower SVR in patients infected with HCV-3 compared with HCV-2 infected patients may be related to higher levels of steatosis in this population.
Zeuzem
Stefan
S
Department of Medicine, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany. zeuzem@uniklinik-saarland.de
Hultcrantz
Rolf
R
Bourliere
Marc
M
Goeser
Tobias
T
Marcellin
Patrick
P
Sanchez-Tapias
Jose
J
Sarrazin
Christoph
C
Harvey
Joann
J
Brass
Clifford
C
Albrecht
Janice
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b