title: Efficacy of combined pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy in Jewish patients of Israel suffering from chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in the Jewish population has not been previously ascertained. The aims of our study were to determine the efficacy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy in an Israeli outpatient practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of 331 consecutive naïve patients with CHC infection treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin between 2003 and 2010 were reviewed in order to document the virological response to the combination therapy. We used logistic regression to identify predictors for the sustained virological response (SVR). Variable selection in multivariable modeling was based on clinical and statistical significance and performed in a hierarchical fashion. First demographic characteristics, then patient clinical characteristics, viral characteristics, and finally adherence to the therapy were introduced into the model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall SVR was 57.1% (42.5% in genotype 1, 87.5% in genotype 2, 81.6% in genotype 3, and 100% in genotype 4). SVR was significantly associated with genotype 2 (OR 3.77, 95% CI 1.04-13.60, P = 0.04), genotype 3 (OR 9.72, 95% CI 4.07-23.20, P < 0.001), baseline viral load lower than 400,000 IU/mL (OR 23.1, 95% CI 8.23-64.98, P < 0.001), and adherence to the 80/80/80 rule (OR 36.22, 95% CI 11.14-117.72, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy was of similar or even higher efficacy in the Israeli population as compared to that reported by international trials in Caucasian, Hispanic, and African American populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The Barzilai Medical Centre, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel. delgado@bgu.ac.il.
authors.forename: Jorge-Shmuel
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Clinical Research Centre, Soroka University Medical Centre, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel.
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Baumfeld
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Clinical Research Centre, Soroka University Medical Centre, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Novack
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Soroka University Medical Centre, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel.
authors.forename: Shulamit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monitin
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Soroka University Medical Centre, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel.|Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Soroka University Medical Centre, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jotkowitz
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Clinical Research Centre, Soroka University Medical Centre, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel.
authors.forename: Ohad
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Etzion
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Clinical Research Centre, Soroka University Medical Centre, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fich