Impact of adherence to peginterferon-ribavirin combination therapy in chronic hepatitis C patients on achieving a sustained virologic response.
OBJECTIVE
Various predictive factors for peginterferon alpha and ribavirin therapy in chronic hepatitis C have been reported, but the effect of adherence to therapy has not been established. We investigated how adherence affects the sustained virologic response (SVR).


METHODS
We analyzed 92 chronic hepatitis C patients receiving peginterferon alpha and ribavirin combination therapy. Patients were first identified as having either genotype 1 or genotype non-1 infection and then categorized into three groups according to their adherence to the treatment protocol: (1) patients who received >/=80% of the recommended dosage of both peginterferon alpha and ribavirin for > or =80% of the intended duration of therapy, (2) patients who received <60% of the recommended dosage of both peginterferon alpha and ribavirin for <60% of the intended duration of therapy, and (3) patients who were not included in either group 1 or 2.


RESULTS
The rates of early virologic response, end of treatment response, and SVR differed significantly with the degree of adherence to the treatment. The SVRs of genotype 1 patients were 86.7%, 26.7%, and 66.7% in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P=0.003), and those of genotype non-1 were 100%, 16.7%, and 88.9%, respectively (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Adherence to therapy is a key factor in achieving an SVR. Supportive strategies to improve adherence will increase overall SVR rates.
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Soon Chun Hyang University, Korea.
Soung Won
SW
Jeong
Jin Dong
JD
Kim
Hyun Young
HY
Woo
Chan Ran
CR
You
Sung Won
SW
Lee
Myeong Jun
MJ
Song
Jung Won
JW
Jang
Si Hyun
SH
Bae
Jong Young
JY
Choi
Seung Kew
SK
Yoon
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; 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; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
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