[The virological response in prolonged therapy of chronic hepatitis C with low-dose peginterferon alpha-2a].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the virological response in prolonged therapy of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with low-dose peginterferon alpha-2a.


METHODS
The 92 cases of in-patients with chronic hepatitis C in September 2004 to September 2006 were divided to three groups according the endurance of interferon. The dose of peginterferon alpha-2a was 67.5 microg, 90 microg and 180 microg per week in group A, B and C respectively. The treatment duration of peginterferon alpha-2a was 96 or 48 weeks in HCV genotype 1b and 2a in group A and B, and in the group C the duration was 48 or 24 weeks in genotype 1b and 2a patients respectively. Meanwhile, ribavirin for 900-1200 mg per day combined treated with all patients. The quantitation of serum HCV RNA were conducted to determine the rapid virological response (RVR), early virological response (EVR) and sustained virological response (SVR) respectively.


RESULTS
There were no significant difference between the three groups in the rate of RVR, EVR and SVR (P > 0.05). There was a higer rate of RVR, EVR and SVR in the genotype 2a group than the genotype 1b group (P < 0.05). HCV genotype was the independent predictor (OR = 12.78, 95%, CI = 11.97-82.89, P = 0.0075) of SVR.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a similar virological response between prolonged therapy of chronic hepatitis C with low-dose peginterferon alpha-2a and the standard dose and duration. The genotype was the independent predictors of SVR in peginterferon alpha-2a antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis C.
Infectious Department of the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China. doctorzhoujy@163.com
Jun-Ying
JY
Zhou
Dong-Fang
DF
Zhou
Wen-Li
WL
Xing
Cai-Yan
CY
Zhao
Zhen
Z
Zhen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a