title: Early quantification of HCV core antigen may help to determine the duration of therapy for chronic genotype 2 or 3 HCV infection.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the utility of hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen (coreAg) assessment for the identification of candidates for short-term therapy. Plasma samples from HCV genotype 2 or 3-infected patients participating in the NORDynamIC trial (n=382) comparing 12 and 24 weeks of combination treatment with pegylated interferon-α2a and a fixed dose of 800 mg ribavirin daily were analyzed for coreAg. Among the 126 patients (33% of the intention-to-treat population) achieving HCV coreAg levels in plasma below 0.2 pg/mL when assayed on treatment day 3, sustained viral response (SVR) rates of 86% and 84% were achieved in the 12- and 24-week arms, respectively. Similarly, among patients having received at least 80% of the target dose of both pegylated interferon α-2a and of ribavirin for at least 80% of the target treatment duration (per-protocol analysis), the SVR rates were 89% and 95%, respectively. Twelve weeks of combination treatment may be sufficient for genotype 2 or 3-infected patients achieving HCV coreAg levels below 0.2 pg/mL by day 3, signaling a rapid clearance of HCV viremia.
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, University of Gothenburg, Guldhedsgatan 10B, 413 46, Göteborg, Sweden. asa.alsio@vgregion.se
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Alsiö
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Jannesson
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Langeland
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Pedersen
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Färkkilä
authors: M R
authors: MR
authors: Buhl
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Mørch
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Westin
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Hellstrand
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Norkrans
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lagging
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011379:Prognosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D019562:Viral Load / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a