title: Sustained virological response of patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 2 depends on pegylated interferon compliance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 are more sensitive to interferon (IFN) therapy than those infected with genotype 1, but 10-20% of patients do not achieve a sustained viral response (SVR) to combination therapy with pegylated (PEG) IFN and ribavirin (RBV). This study examines the prognostic factors associated with SVR in patients infected with HCV genotype 2 treated with PEG IFN and RBV.
  
  
  METHODS
  We treated 149 patients with chronic hepatitis C caused by HCV genotype 2. The patients received s.c. PEG IFN-α-2b (1.5 µg/kg) and a weekly weight-adjusted dose of RBV (600, 800 and 1000 mg per <60, 60-80 and >80 kg, respectively) for 24 weeks and then prognostic factors associated with the SVR were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 149 patients, 138 completed the combination therapy and a sustained viral response was achieved in 71.8% of them. Univariate analysis showed that age, as well as mean RBV and PEG IFN doses were factors affecting the SVR (P = 0.012, =0.021, =0.014). Multivariate analysis identified age and mean PEG IFN dose (P = 0.021, =0.018, respectively) as factors involved in the SVR, but not mean RBV dose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SVR of patients infected with HCV genotype 2 depended on the dosage of PEG IFN, but not of RBV. Selecting sufficient doses of PEG IFN for combination with RBV is critical for treating such patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon Department of Gastroenterology, Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital Center for Liver-Biliary-Pancreatic Diseases, Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital Department of Internal Medicine, Saiseikai Matsuyama Hospital, Matsuyama Department of Internal Medicine, Uwajima City Hospital, Uwajima Department of Internal Medicine, Saiseikai Saijo Hospital, Saijo Department of Internal Medicine, Ehime Prefectural Imabari Hospital Department of Internal Medicine, Saiseikai Imabari Daini Hospital, Imabari, Japan.
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Konishi
authors.forename: Shuichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shigematsu
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uesugi
authors.forename: Kouji
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authors.lastname: Joko
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seike
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyaoka
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Bunzo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: Kojiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Michitaka
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Horiike
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hiasa
authors.forename: Morikazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onji