title: Sustained virological response based on rapid virological response in genotype-3 chronic hepatitis C treated with standard interferon in the Pakistani population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document the sustained virological response (SVR) in rapid virological responders (RVR) of genotype-3 chronic hepatitis C with standard interferon (SdIF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Hepatitis C genotype-3 patients during the period July 2006 and June 2007 were included. Complete blood counts, prothrombin time, ALT, albumin, qualitative HCV RNA were done. SdIF and ribavirin were given for 4 wk and qualitative HCV RNA was repeated. Those testing negative were allocated to group-A while the rest were allocated to group-B. Treatment was continued a total of 16 and 24 wk for group A and B respectively. HCV RNA was repeated after 24 wk of treatment. End virological and sustained virological responses were compared by c2 test. ROC of pretreatment age, ALT and albumin were plotted for failure to achieve SVR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 74 patients treated, RCV RNA after 16 wk of therapy became undetectable in 34 (45.9%) and was detectable in 40 (54.1%) and were allocated to groups A and B respectively. SVR was achieved in 58.8% and 27.8% in groups A and B respectively. SVR rates were significantly higher in patients who had RVR as compared to those who did not (P = 0.0; gamma = 2). Both groups combined ETR and SVR were 70% and 33% respectively. ROC plots of pretreatment age, ALT and albumin for SVR showed only ALT to have a significantly large area under the curve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SVR rates were higher in patients who had RVR with SdIF and high pre treatment ALT values correlated to probability of having RVR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Baba-e-Urdu Road, Karachi 74000, Pakistan. bader@zuberi.biz
authors.forename: Bader-Faiyaz
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Zuberi
authors.forename: Faisal-Faiyaz
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Zuberi
authors.forename: Sajjad-Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.forename: Muhammad-Hafeez
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: Sheikh-Zafar
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Salahuddin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Afsar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D007372:Interferons