title: Rapid virological response as a predictor of sustained response in HCV-infected patients with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels: A multicenter study.
abstract: Rapid virological response (RVR) is now considered the strongest predictor of sustained virological response (SVR) in patients with HCV undergoing antiviral treatment, and thus, shorter antiviral treatment for these patients has been suggested. However, no data exist on the predictive value of RVR in HCV carriers with normal ALT values. A total of 137 patients with persistently normal ALT treated with peginterferon alfa 2a and ribavirin were studied. Fifteen patients dropped out early because of side effects, and in 10 patients with HCV-1 treatment was discontinued because of lack of early virological response (EVR). RVR was observed in 68% of the patients (42% patients with HCV-1, 90% HCV-2 and 64% HCV-3). An end-of-treatment response was observed in 86% of the patients (68% HCV-1, 100% HCV-2 and 91% HCV-3). SVR was maintained in 91 patients (46% HCV-1, 97% HCV-2 and 82% HCV-3). Overall, 92% patients with rapid response did obtain HCV eradication vs only 38% of those without rapid response. HCV-1 patients with baseline HCV RNA <400×10(3) IU/mL were more likely to achieve RVR and SVR than those with higher HCV RNA levels. We conclude that patients with genotype 1 and normal ALT who achieve HCV RNA negativity at week 4 may have a higher probability of eradicating their infection. Because of the concomitant favourable demographic and virological features often found in this particular subset of patients, the duration of therapy in these people might be shortened in the case of RVR. Persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels patients with genotype 2 or 3 have a high chance of achieving SVR, so retesting of HCV RNA during treatment may have no additional practical value in these subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Unit, Marino Hospital, Rome, Italy. puoti@epatologia.org
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Puoti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barbarini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Picardi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pellicelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barlattani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mecenate
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guarisco
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Costanza
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spilabotti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bellis
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bonaventura
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dell' Unto
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Elmo
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nicolini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nosotti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Soccorsi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; 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; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a