Effectiveness of interferon plus ribavirin combination in the treatment of naive patients with hepatitis C virus type 5. A French multicentre retrospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the rate of sustained virological response in naïve hepatitis C virus-type 5 patients treated by standard interferon or pegylated-interferon [corrected] (peg-interferon) and ribavirin combination for 48 weeks.


METHODS
A total of 87 hepatitis C virus patients were included from 12 centres in France; 28 patients received interferon plus ribavirin and 59 were treated with peg-interferon plus ribavirin.


RESULTS
Baseline characteristics were: mean age 58 +/- 11 years, sex ratio 1, 66% had metavir fibrosis score >or=F2, 21% were cirrhotics and 53% had pretherapeutic viral load >or=800,000 IU/mL. Sustained virological response was achieved in 64% and 58% of hepatitis C virus-5 patients treated with interferon and peg-interferon, respectively (NS). In adherent patients, sustained virological response was obtained in 75% of patients. Sustained virological response in hepatitis C virus-5 patients (60%) was significantly higher than sustained virological response in hepatitis C virus-1 patients (37%) (P = 0.0499) and not significantly different from sustained virological response in hepatitis C virus-2-3 patients (63%) (P = 0.8098).


CONCLUSIONS
Combination therapy is effective in 60% of hepatitis C virus-5-infected patients. Sustained virological response seems better in hepatitis C virus-5 patients than in hepatitis C virus-1 patients, and is similar to that of hepatitis C virus-2-3 patients. More studies are needed to determine optimal duration of treatment in hepatitis C virus-5 patients.
Bonny
C
C
Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Hôtel-Dieu, Clermont-Ferrand, France. cbonny@chu-clermontferrand.fr
Fontaine
H
H
Poynard
T
T
Hézode
C
C
Larrey
D
D
Marcellin
P
P
Bourlière
M
M
Bronowicki
J P
JP
Merle
P
P
Zarski
J P
JP
Sapey
T
T
Guillemard
C
C
Ughetto
S
S
Henquell
C
C
Nicolas
C
C
Roche
C
C
Randl
K
K
Bommelaer
G
G
Abergel
A
A
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons