Interferon alpha plus ribavirin combination treatment of Japanese chronic hepatitis C patients with HCV genotype 2: a project of the Kyushu University Liver Disease Study Group.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of an interferon alpha and ribavirin combination treatment for Japanese patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) of genotype 2, a multi-center study was retrospectively analyzed.


METHODS
In total, 173 patients with HCV genotype 2 started to receive interferon-alpha subcutaneously thrice a week and 600-800 mg of ribavirin daily for 24 wk.


RESULTS
The overall sustained virological response (SVR), defined as undetectable HCV RNA in serum, 24 wk after the end of treatment, was remarkably high by 84.4%, (146/173) by an intention-to-treat analysis. A significant difference in SVR was found between patients with and without the discontinuation of ribavirin (46.9% vs 92.9%), but no difference was found between those with and without a dose reduction of ribavirin. A significant difference in SVR was also found between patients with less than 16 wk and patients with 16 or more weeks of ribavirin treatment (34.8% vs 92.0%).


CONCLUSIONS
The 24-wk interferon and ribavirin treatment is highly effective for Japanese patients with HCV genotype 2. The significant predictor of SVR is continuation of the ribavirin treatment for up to 16 weeks.
Furusyo
Norihiro
N
Department of General Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan. furusyo@genmedpr.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Katoh
Masaki
M
Tanabe
Yuichi
Y
Kajiwara
Eiji
E
Maruyama
Toshihiro
T
Shimono
Junya
J
Sakai
Hironori
H
Nakamuta
Makoto
M
Nomura
Hideyuki
H
Masumoto
Akihide
A
Shimoda
Shinji
S
Takahashi
Kazuhiro
K
Azuma
Koichi
K
Hayashi
Jun
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin