Sustained virological response to interferon reduces cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C: a 1,386-patient study from Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
The long-term benefits of interferon-based therapy on preventing cirrhosis at non-cirrhotic stage in chronic hepatitis C patients are not fully clarified.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of interferon-based therapy regarding to cirrhosis prevention in non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis C patients.


METHODS
A total of 1386 biopsy-proven, non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis C patients (892 received interferon-based therapy and 494 untreated) were enrolled.


RESULTS
Fifty-six untreated and 51 treated (24 sustained virologic responders and 27 non-responders) patients developed cirrhosis during a mean follow-up period of 5.0 (1-16) and 5.1 (1-15.3) years, respectively. The annual incidences of cirrhosis in untreated and treated groups were 2.26 and 1.11% (non-responders: 1.99%, sustained responders: 0.74%), respectively. The 15-year cumulative incidence of cirrhosis was significantly lower in treated (9.9%) than untreated patients (39.8%, P = 0.0008, log-rank test). The 14.5-year cumulative incidence of cirrhosis was significantly lower in sustained responders (4.8%) compared with non-responders (21.6%, P = 0.0007) and untreated patients (36.6%, P < 0.0001). The difference was not significant between non-responders and untreated controls. Cox proportional hazards regression showed sustained virologic responders and younger age were independent negative factors for cirrhosis development.


CONCLUSIONS
A sustained virologic response secondary to IFN-based therapy could reduce cirrhosis development in chronic hepatitis C patients.
Huang
J-F
JF
Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Yu
M-L
ML
Lee
C-M
CM
Dai
C-Y
CY
Hou
N-J
NJ
Hsieh
M-Y
MY
Wang
J-H
JH
Lu
S-N
SN
Sheen
I-S
IS
Lin
S-M
SM
Chuang
W-L
WL
Liaw
Y-F
YF
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha