title: Chronic hepatitis C genotype 6 responds better to pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination therapy than genotype 1.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic hepatitis C genotype 6 is common in Hong Kong, especially among i.v. drug abusers. Responses of these patients to combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment were inconsistent and the numbers of patients involved in previous studies were small. We performed a retrospective study to compare the therapeutic responses of this regimen in patients infected with genotype 6 and genotype 1.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy patients with either genotype 6 or genotype 1 were recruited. Both groups received 800-1200 mg of ribavirin daily plus either 180 mg of pegylated alpha-interferon-2a or 1.5 mg/kg pegylated alpha-interferon-2b weekly for 48 weeks. Their responses to treatments were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The early virological response to combination therapy of patients with genotype 6 was significantly better than that of genotype 1 (88.6% vs 74.3%, P = 0.03). Significant difference was also identified in the end of treatment response of the two genotypes (60% vs 81.4% for genotype 1 and 6, respectively; P = 0.005). The sustained virological response (SVR) to treatment in patients with genotype 6 was also significantly superior to that of patients with genotype 1 (75.7% vs 57.1%, P = 0.02). Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age of 55 years or less, genotypes of hepatitis C virus, liver biopsy staging and baseline hepatitis C virus RNA of 200,000 IU/mL or less were independent predictors for better SVR in this cohort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 6 respond better to pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination treatment than patients with genotype 1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Geriatrics of Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong. tsangty@ha.org.hk
authors.forename: Owen T-Y
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: Jonpaul S-T
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Zee
authors.forename: Jacky M-C
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Reggie S-T
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yee-Man
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kan
authors.forename: Francis T-W
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Fu-Hang
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Kent W-L
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Kam-Hon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Yat-Wah
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Fook-Hong
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Michael K-K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wai-Keung
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.forename: Thomas S-T
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; 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