title: Peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) (PEGASYS) plus ribavirin (COPEGUS) in retreatment of chronic hepatitis C patients, nonresponders and relapsers to previous conventional interferon plus ribavirin therapy.
abstract: Peginterferon alfa plus ribavirin is currently the treatment of choice for chronic hepatitis C. Peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) plus ribavirin has given an overall sustained virological response of 18% in F3/F4 previous nonresponder US patients. We evaluated the effectiveness of peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) plus ribavirin in Brazilian patients who were relapsers or nonresponders to previous interferon-based therapy. One-hundred-thirty-four patients with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis C, HCV RNA positive, elevated ALT and who were either relapsers (n=37) or nonresponders (n=97) to at least 24 weeks of conventional interferon/ribavirin therapy were retreated with peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) 180mg/qw and ribavirin 800 mg bid for 48 weeks. Efficacy was assessed as virological response (defined as undetectable HCV RNA) at the end of treatment (EoT) and at the end of follow-up (SVR - Sustained Virological Response). Safety assessments consisted of clinical and laboratory evaluations. In the patient sample, 72% were genotype 1 and 34% were cirrhotic. In an intention-to-treat analysis, relapser patients showed 78% EoT response and 51% SVR. Nonresponders showed 57% EoT response and 26% SVR. Positive predictive factors of SVR were non-1 genotype and relapser state. Six percent of the patients interrupted treatment because of adverse events and 45% had dose reduction (mainly associated with leucopenia and anemia). Brazilian patient relapsers and nonresponders to conventional interferon and ribavirin treatment can achieve a sustained virological response when retreated with peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) and ribavirin. The safety profile is similar to that of naive patients.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. parise@gastro.epm.br
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Parise
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheinquer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meirelles
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sette
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gallizi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lacet
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cotrim
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paraná
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tatsch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pessoa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019233:Retreatment; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a