Is the rapid virologic response a positive predictive factor of sustained virologic response in all pretreatment status genotype 1 hepatitis c patients treated with peginterferon-alpha2b and ribavirin?
BACKGROUND
Currently it is not yet defined if the rapid virologic response (RVR) can predict a sustained virologic response (SVR) in relapsers and nonresponders.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate treatment-RVR as a predictive factor of SVR in genotype 1 hepatitis C treatment naive, relapsers, and nonresponder patients treated with pegylated interferon-alpha (PEG-IFN-alpha2b) and ribavirin.


METHODS
One hundred sixty-seven genotype 1 hepatitis C patients who were treated with PEG-IFN-alpha2b and ribavirin and had SVR assessed were included. Hepatitis C virus RNA analysis at the fourth week of treatment was performed in all patients. The exclusion criteria were hepatitis B virus and/or HIV co-infection. A comparative analysis was performed between the groups with and without RVR and a logistic regression model was applied.


RESULTS
One hundred sixty-seven patients were analyzed, 103 (62%) were naives, 22 (13%) relapsers, and 42 (25%) nonresponders. The SVR rates were 44% in naives, 68% in relapsers, and 12% in nonresponders. RVR was attained in 51/167 (31%) patients and in this group the SVR was higher than in those without RVR (75% vs. 23%; P<0.001). This difference was also observed in all subgroups: naives (71% vs. 29%; P=0.001), relapsers (92% vs. 40%; P=0.02), and nonresponders (50% vs. 8%; P=0.06). A stepwise logistic regression model identified RVR and absence of cirrhosis as the factors independently associated to SVR.


CONCLUSIONS
RVR and absence of cirrhosis are the strongest predictive factors of SVR in HCV genotype 1 patients. Assessment of RVR is very useful in all pretreatment status patients in predicting SVR and provides information for individualizing therapy.
de Segadas-Soares
Jorge André
JA
Hepatology Division, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. jasegadas@yahoo.com.br
Villela-Nogueira
Cristiane A
CA
Perez
Renata M
RM
Nabuco
Letícia C
LC
Brandão-Mello
Carlos Eduardo
CE
Coelho
Henrique Sérgio M
HS
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; 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