title: [Effectiveness of antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated by private practice gastroenterologists].
abstract: The standard treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C consists of pegylated interferon (PegIFN) alpha in combination with ribavirin. Information on treatment effectiveness outside clinical trials is sparse. To study community-based health care, a regional network supported by the German network of competence for hepatitis (Hep-Net) was created between gastroenterologists in private practice and a tertiary referral centre. A treatment register containing evidence-based guidelines was established and 212 consecutive patients who were treated with either PegIF Nalpha 2a/ribavirin (n = 126) or PegIFNalpha2b/ribavirin (n = 86) for 24 weeks (HCV genotype 2, 3) and 48 weeks (HCV genotype 1, 4, 5), respectively, were included and followed prospectively. Twenty-four weeks after cessation of antiviral treatment a sustained virological response was achieved in 54 % of the patients. By univariate analyses, infection with HCV genotypes 2 or 3 (p < 0.0001), younger age (p < 0.0001), normal gamma-glutamyltransferase levels before initiation of treatment (p = 0.003), and absence of language communication problems (p = 0.023) were associated with a sustained virological response. The presence of liver cirrhosis in patients with HCV genotype 1, 4, 5 infection was associated with lower sustained response rates (p = 0.025). Patients infected with HCV genotype 1 in whom the PegIFNalpha dose was reduced had higher virological relapse rates (p = 0.049). With regard to the treating physician, sustained virological response rates ranged from 26 - 67 % in patients infected with HCV genotype 1. Our study shows that virological response rates similar to those in international randomised clinical trials can be achieved by private practice gastroenterologists. The presented network allows characterization of the treatment outcome in chronic hepatitis C not only with regard to virus- and host-related factors but also on an individual physician basis.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Kirrberger Strasse, 66421 Homburg/Saar.
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tacke
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pfaff
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kihn
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moog
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Kellner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schöfer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frick
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rambow
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friedrich-Rust
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sarrazin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zeuzem
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005762:Gastroenterology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011379:Prognosis; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin