Rapid, early and sustained virological responses in a cohort of Irish patients treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
BACKGROUND
The response to the treatment with pegylated interferon (PEG IFN)-α combined with ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection varies with some patients having a rapid or early response which is not sustained.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the rates of rapid virological response (RVR), early virological response (EVR) and sustained virological response (SVR) in an Irish cohort of HCV infected patients receiving IFN-α/ribavirin.


METHODS
Rates of RVR, EVR and SVR were examined in 123 patients undergoing standard treatment for chronic HCV infection between 2001 and 2007 at a Dublin Teaching Hospital.


RESULTS
The rates of RVR, EVR and SVR in genotype 1 patients were 48, 68 and 50%, while in genotype 2/3 patients they were 87, 93 and 87%, respectively. The positive predictive values (PPV) of RVR for SVR in genotype 1 and genotype 2/3 patients were 90 and 92.4%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The rates of response to PEG     IFN-α/ribavirin in Irish patients are consistent with other international reports. We support the regular monitoring of rapid and early virological response as a standard of care in treating chronic hepatitis C patients.
Liver Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland. shehzad32@hotmail.com
S
S
Sarwar
E J
EJ
Ryan
M
M
Iqbal
P A
PA
McCormick
C
C
O'Farrelly
J
J
Hegarty
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a