title: High virologic sustained response for former young intravenous drug users with chronic hepatitis C treated by pegylated interferon-alpha plus ribavirin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this clinical study was to assess virological response at end-of -treatment (ETR), sustained virological (SVR) and biochemical response in former drug users with chronic hepatitis C treated with PEG-IFN-alpha and R.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety two former drug users (21 F, 71 M) average age 27 years (18 to 41 years) and previously not treated with IFN-alpha and R (naive patients, pts) were evaluated for their virological and biochemical response. Standard treatment regimen of either 24 or 48 weeks was applied in patients with genotype 3 or genotype 1, respectively. SVR was considered if viral tests (HCV RNA) were negative 24 weeks after the end of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall SVR was attained in 87 (95%) of 92 treated patients, and therapy failed in 5 pts with genotype 1. In genotype 1 patients ETR and SVR were 81% and 86%, respectively (p < 0.001). In genotype 3 patients ETR and SVR were 98% and 100%, respectively (p < 0.001). ALT levels decreased significantly after 12 weeks of therapy (ALT 1.61 vs 0.64 micro/kat/l, p < 0.001) and were at normal levels during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Crucial predictive factors resulting in high SVR were the younger age in combination with low stage of liver fibrosis, relatively short duration of viral infection, high proportion of genotype 3 and excellent adherence of patients to treatment regimen than previously not treated with IFN-alpha and R (naive patients). High proportion of SVR in former drug users has been achieved in patients with genotype 3 (100%) and genotype 1 (86%). The most decisive prognostic factor which favors high therapeutic efficacy appears to be young age and early onset of anti-HCV treatment (Tab. 3, Fig. 1, Ref. 33). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Immunotoxicology, National Centre for Viral Hepatitis, Institute of Pathology, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia. frantisek.gazdik@szu.sk
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gazdik
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gazdikova
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laktis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Okruhlica
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fejdiova
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Danis
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pijak
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wsolova
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kajaba
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kratky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000821:virology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: 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; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a