Chronic hepatitis C genotype 6 responds better to pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination therapy than genotype 1.
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.
Tsang
Owen T-Y
OT
Department of Medicine and Geriatrics of Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong. tsangty@ha.org.hk
Zee
Jonpaul S-T
JS
Chan
Jacky M-C
JM
Li
Reggie S-T
RS
Kan
Yee-Man
YM
Li
Francis T-W
FT
Lo
Fu-Hang
FH
Chow
David A
DA
Cheung
Kent W-L
KW
Chan
Kam-Hon
KH
Yeung
Yat-Wah
YW
Ng
Fook-Hong
FH
Li
Michael K-K
MK
Kwan
Wai-Keung
WK
Lai
Thomas S-T
TS
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
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