title: Chronic hepatitis C treated with peginterferon alfa plus ribavirin in clinical practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of genotype and viremia were retrospectively evaluated on sustained virological response (SVR) rates in routine clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1907 patients with chronic hepatitis C proposed for treatment, we analysed 1380 (1124 naive and 256 treatment-experienced) with complete follow-up. Genotype and HCV RNA quantification were assayed by commercial tests. Viremia was considered high if >800,000IU/mL, and low if <400,000IU/mL. Liver fibrosis was staged in 614 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Genotype 1 was the most frequent (60%), followed by 3 (25%), 4 (9%) and 2 (2%); 3.2% had other or unclassified genotype. Genotype 1 was more prevalent in central Portugal and genotype 4 in the south. Viremia was =800,000IU/mL in 54.6% and <400,000IU/mL in 34.6% of the patients, particularly in genotype 2 (p<0.03) and 4 (p<0.001). Genotype non-1 had a significantly lower viral load (p=0.004). Mild or moderate fibrosis was present in 71.7% and bridging fibrosis or cirrhosis in 28.3%, with no differences among genotypes. Treatment was discontinued in 19.8%. SVR was achieved in 55.3% of naive and 36.3% of re-treated patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standard treatment of chronic hepatitis C in real-life achieves similar results obtained in clinical trials, despite differences of demographic and viral parameters.
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal. josevelosa@fm.ul.pt
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Velosa
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Serejo
authors.forename: Tiago
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bana
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Redondo
authors.forename: Adélia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simão
authors.forename: Ana M H
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vale
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marinho
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peixe
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sarmento
authors.forename: Leopoldo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.forename: Filipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Calinas
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Aires
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a