Higher rate of sustained virologic response in chronic hepatitis C genotype 6 treated with 48 weeks versus 24 weeks of peginterferon plus ribavirin.
OBJECTIVE
Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 6 is common in patients from parts of China and Southeast Asia. No study to date has examined the treatment response to peginterferon and ribavirin (PEG IFN + RBV) in these patients, or the effects of treatment duration on sustained virologic response (SVR) rates.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective study of 190 consecutive Asian-American patients who were diagnosed with HCV genotype 6 at a gastroenterology clinic in northern California between 2001 and 2004, 66 of whom were treatment-naïve and subsequently completed 24 wk of IFN + RBV or PEG IFN + RBV or 48 wk of PEG IFN + RBV therapy. The primary outcome was SVR.


RESULTS
There was no statistical difference in SVR of 31 patients treated with 24 wk of IFN + RBV and in 23 patients treated with 24 wk of PEG IFN + RBV (51.6%vs 39%, P= 0.363). The SVR in 12 patients treated with 48 wk of PEG IFN + RBV was significantly higher than that in those treated for only 24 wk (75%vs 39%, P= 0.044).


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment-eligible patients with HCV genotype 6 should be treated with a full course of 48 wk as tolerated. Larger prospective studies of patients with HCV genotype 6 are needed to confirm the optimal treatment duration with PEG IFN + RBV.
Nguyen
Mindie H
MH
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, USA.
Trinh
Huy N
HN
Garcia
Ruel
R
Nguyen
Gloria
G
Lam
Khoa D
KD
Keeffe
Emmet B
EB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002140:California; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b