How sustained is sustained viral response in patients with hepatitis C virus infection?
BACKGROUND
Sustained virological response (SVR) is achieved in a high proportion of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection, particularly those with genotype 2 or 3 HCV infection. However, data on long-term durability of virological response in patients who achieve SVR are limited.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the long-term durability of virological response in patients who have achieved SVR with interferon-based combination therapy.


METHODS
One hundred patients with chronic HCV infection who had obtained SVR after IFN and ribavirin combination therapy were followed up for up to 8 years with annual HCV RNA testing.


RESULTS
During a followed up of 6 months to 8 years, 8 of 100 patients with initial SVR developed late relapse of HCV infection. Relapse was more common in patients who had cirrhosis (5/28 [18%] vs. (3/72 [4%] with no cirrhosis; p=0.037).


CONCLUSIONS
SVR is durable in most patients, but some patients do have late relapse; long term follow up may be particularly important in a subset of patients with HCV infection who have liver cirrhosis.
Sood
Ajit
A
Department of Gastroenterology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India. ajitsood10@sify.com
Midha
Vandana
V
Mehta
Varun
V
Sharma
Sarit
S
Mittal
Rasham
R
Thara
Amandeep
A
Sood
Neena
N
Kaur
Amarjeet
A
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015993:Life Tables; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012008:Recurrence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons
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