[Durability of a sustained virologic response in combination therapy with interferon/peginterferon and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C].
OBJECTIVE
The ultimate goal of antiviral therapy using interferon/pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin in chronic C-viral hepatitis is to achieve a sustained virologic response (SVR). Several studies have shown that the reappearance rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in serum after the achievement of an SVR is less than 1%; the durability of an SVR in Korean patients is not known. The aim of this study was to determine the durability of the virologic response in chronic hepatitis C patients with an SVR to antiviral therapy.


METHODS
A total of 156 patients who were treated successfully with interferon/peginterferon and ribavirin were evaluated retrospectively. Patients received either subcutaneous conventional interferon alpha 3x10(6) units three times a week or subcutaneous pegylated interferon (alpha-2a: 180 microgram, alpha-2b: 80-100 microgram) once a week in combination with ribavirin at 600-1,200 mg daily (depending on body weight). Patients with HCV genotype 1 were treated for 48 weeks, whereas those with non-genotype 1 were treated for 24 weeks.


RESULTS
Eighty-two patients underwent treatment with conventional interferon and ribavirin, whereas 74 patients were treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. An SVR was achieved in 73 patients (73/156, 46.8%). HCV RNA reappeared in eight patients (8/73, 11.0%; detected by qualitative PCR), including one patient with persistent viremia (1/73, 1.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
Reappearance of HCV RNA after earlier achievement of an SVR might appear more frequently than previously reported. Close follow-up of these patients is recommended and the implication of temporary viremia should be determined in the future.
Department of Gastroenterology, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
Chul Hyun
CH
Kim
Byung Do
BD
Park
Jin Woo
JW
Lee
Young Soo
YS
Kim
Seok
S
Jeong
Don Haeng
DH
Lee
Hyung Gil
HG
Kim
Yong Woon
YW
Shin
Key Sook
KS
Kwon
Jung Il
JI
Lee
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014766:Viremia / Q000188:drug therapy
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a