title: Prediction of sustained virological response to combination therapy with pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin in patients with genotype 3 chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sustained virological response (SVR) rates in patients with hepatitis C are heterogeneous and are influenced by a wide range of host and viral factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy with pegylated interferon alfa (PEG-IFN-α) and ribavirin (RBV), and document the SVR rates taking into consideration various predictive factors in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) genotype 3.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-seven treatment-naive patients with CHC genotype 3 (mean age 41.46±11.51 years, M:F ratio 79:18), who received a combination of PEG-IFN (α-2a or α-2b) and RBV were retrospectively analyzed (2006-2008) for the early virological response (EVR) at 12 weeks, end of treatment response (ETR), and SVR at 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-four (86.6%) patients achieved EVR and 81 (83.5%) achieved ETR, while SVR was achieved in 65 (67.0%) patients. Of the 84 patients who achieved EVR, 77 (91.7%) achieved ETR and 61 (72.6%) achieved SVR at 6 months. Age and body mass index (BMI) were found to be important predictors (*P<0.05) of SVR. CHC patients with a history of alcohol intake showed decreased SVR (52%) (*P=0.035) as compared to nonalcoholics (80%). Cirrhotic versus noncirrhotic patients showed no difference in SVR (54.5% vs. 70.7%) (P=0.157). Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P=0.169) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels (P=0.42) also did not have an influence on the SVR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combination therapy with PEG-IFN-α and RBV demonstrated good tolerability in CHC genotype 3 infection. Age, BMI, and alcohol consumption play an important role in determining treatment outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tohra
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taneja
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duseja
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Dhiman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Chawla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; 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