Weight loss, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia associated with sustained virologic response to Hepatitis C treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To identify apparent adverse effects of treatment of chronic hepatitis C and their relationship to sustained virologic response (SVR).


METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted of all Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin in an academic ambulatory infectious disease practice. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were compared between patients with SVR and without SVR.


RESULTS
Fifty-four patients completed therapy with the overall SVR rate of 76%. SVR was associated with genotype non-1 (P=0.01), weight loss more than 5 kilograms (P=0.04), end of treatment leukopenia (P=0.02) and thrombocytopenia (P=0.05). In multivariate analysis, SVR was significant associated with HCV genotype non-1 (Adjusted Odd Ratio [AOR] 15.22; CI 1.55 to 149.72; P=0.02), weight loss more than 5 kilograms, (AOR 5.74; CI 1.24 to 26.32; P=0.04), and end of treatment white blood cell count level less than 3 X 10(3) cells/microl (AOR 9.09; CI 1.59 to 52.63; P=0.02). Thrombocytopenia was not significant after adjustment. Other factors including age, gender, ethnicity, injection drug use, viral load, anemia, alanine transaminase level, and liver histology did not reach statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Besides non-1 genotype, SVR was found to be independently associated with weight loss during therapy, and leukopenia at the end of HCV treatment. These correlations suggest continuation of therapy despite adverse effects, may be of benefit.
Suwantarat
Nuntra
N
Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, USA. nuntra@hawaii.edu
Tice
Alan D
AD
Khawcharoenporn
Thana
T
Chow
Dominic C
DC
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012307:Risk Factors; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013997:Time Factors; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a