title: Inferior response of Asian vs non-Asian hepatitis C genotype 3 infection to combination antiviral therapy.
abstract: Racial differences in response to treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been noted in several trials. In this study, we compared the response rate to treatment of Asian patients infected by genotype 3 HCV with non-Asians treated for the same genotype. Sixteen of 38 (42.1%) Asians achieved a sustained virological response (SVR), compared with 41 of 66 (62.1%) Caucasians (P = 0.063). At baseline prior to treatment, Asians had a higher histological fibrosis stage (P = 0.0014), indicating more advanced disease at presentation. In univariable analysis of baseline factors predicting failure to achieve an SVR, Asian ethnicity, fibrosis stage, higher serum aspartate transaminase, bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase, as well as lower white cell count, haemoglobin and platelet count were statistically significant. None of these factors achieved significance in multivariate analysis, possibly because of the relatively small number of patients studied. We have observed an inferior response to treatment of Asian vs Caucasian patients. The poor response probably reflects the more advanced liver disease at baseline observed for Asian British patients.
authors.affiliation: The Liver and Hepatobiliary Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Freshwater
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Mutimer
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044466:Asian People; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin