[The sustained response rates for chronic hepatitis C patients undergoing therapy with the several interferons and ribavarins supplied by Brazilians Health Ministry is comparable to those reported in the literature].
BACKGROUND
The sustained response rates of chronic hepatitis C therapy to interferons alpha 2A and 2B associated to ribavirin are described as approximately 40%. Nevertheless, studies on the sustained response rates in a setting of frequent changes of type of interferon as well as of supplies of interferons and ribavirin are lacking.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of sustained response and to determine the predictors of response to chronic hepatitis C therapy, in a cohort of outpatients at Curitiba, PR, south Brazil, in a setting of heterogeneous therapy regarding type and supply of the medications.


METHODS
A cohort of 87 chronic hepatitis C patients submitted to therapy with interferon alpha 2 and ribavirin were followed from August 1999 to August 2002. The prevalence of sustained response and the influence of gender, age, genotype and severity of liver fibrosis in the response were evaluated.


RESULTS
A sustained response prevalence of 32.1% was found, positively associated to genotypes 2 and 3.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the frequent changes on product type and/or procedence, the sustained response prevalence rate found in this study was similar to that described in the literature.
Acras
Rafael Nastás
RN
Serviço de Gastroenterologia do Hospital de Clínicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR.
Pedroso
Maria Lúcia A
ML
Caum
Leiber Carvalho
LC
Pisani
Júlio C
JC
Amarante
Heda M B S
HM
Carmes
Eliane R
ER
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005355:Fibrosis; D005838:Genotype; D006078:Government Programs; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin