title: Lack of rapid virological response predicts interferon-alpha2b/ribavirin therapy failure in HCV genotype 2 patients: a single-centre study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A minority of patients with HCV-2 chronic hepatitis does not attain a sustained virological response to interferon-based therapies. Registration trials have failed to identify the real proportion of HCV-2 non-responders, and predictors of non-response. The analysis of 'real-life' HCV-2 patients might help define the effectiveness of anti-HCV therapy and the role of response moderators.
  
  
  METHODS
  A re-analysis of all treatment-naive HCV-2 patients who consecutively received weight-dosed ribavirin with either 3 MU three times a week standard interferon-alpha2b or 1.5 microg/kg/week pegylated interferon-alpha2b.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 94 interferon-treated patients and the 136 pegylated-interferon-treated patients were comparable for demography, prevalence of cirrhosis (25%) and adherence to therapy (74%). By intention-to-treat analysis, the overall sustained virological response rate was 80% (82% interferon versus 78% pegylated interferon). Overall, sustained virological rates were 83% for the 182 patients who cleared HCV RNA at week 4 (rapid virological response) and 52% for the 48 who did not (P < 0.001). The corresponding week 12 figures of HCV RNA clearance were 90% and 32%, respectively (P < 0.001). Sustained response was independent of gender, age, body mass index, modality of infection, duration and severity of liver disease, adherence to therapy and interferon type. After stratification for interferon type, the only treatment failure predictor was persistence of HCV RNA at week 4 and 12.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the prevalence of moderators of treatment outcome, HCV-2 patients showed as high sustained virological response rates as those reported in registration trials for HCV-2 and HCV-3 pooled patients; pegylated interferon therapy failure was predicted by lack of rapid virological response.
authors.affiliation: AM Et A Migliavacca Centre for Liver Disease, Division of Gastroenterology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. mariagrazia.rumi@unimi.it
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Rumi
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aghemo
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Ambrosio
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ronchi
authors.forename: Ersilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Del Ninno
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallus
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colombo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin