Management of hepatitis C virus genotype 2 or 3 infection: treatment optimization on the basis of virological response.
Current guidelines recommend a full 24-week regimen for all patients undergoing treatment for genotype 2 or 3 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Recent data from two large randomized studies, one with pegylated interferon-alpha2a plus ribavirin (RBV) and one with pegylated interferon-alpha2b plus RBV assessed treatment duration and on-treatment predictors, such as rapid virological response (RVR; HCV RNA <50 IU/ml at week 4) or sustained virological response rates. Overall, these studies have shown that abbreviated regimens are generally less effective than standard 24-week regimens in genotype 2 or 3 patients because of a higher rate of relapse. However, abbreviated treatment might be offered to selected patients with an RVR provided that they have a low baseline viral load and minimal hepatic fibrosis.
JW Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany.
Stefan
S
Zeuzem
Mario
M
Rizzetto
Peter
P
Ferenci
Mitchell L
ML
Shiffman
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a