title: [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].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Gastroenterologia do Hospital de Clínicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR.
authors.forename: Rafael Nastás
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Acras
authors.forename: Maria Lúcia A
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pedroso
authors.forename: Leiber Carvalho
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Caum
authors.forename: Júlio C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.forename: Heda M B S
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Amarante
authors.forename: Eliane R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Carmes
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin