title: Risk score based PEG Interferon alpha 2b and Ribavirin treatment response estimation model for genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Attempt to create simple practical algorithm for prospective assessment of PEG interferon/ribavirin related treatment response in individuals with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) basing on the risk factors defined prior to the treatment initiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective assessment of 45 female and 39 male previously untreated CHC patients aged 20 to 73 years, with genotype 1, undergoing standard treatment with PEG-IFNa2b+RBV was performed. For the final analysis 78 patients were included (38 effectively treated and 40 treatment failures). Thirty-six sustained virological response (SVR) related factors, which were routinely measured before treatment initiation were compared (including physical, biochemical, serologic and histopathologic). From this group the risk factors of the highest predictive value for treatment failure were selected. Cut-off values for statistical significance were defined for each parameter, with risk score (RS) calculated and compared in the group with and without SVR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven factors related to treatment failure were identified: HCV>600000 IU/L, blood platelet count <150000/ul, GGTP>45 IU/ml, total serum protein<7.8 g/dl, glycaemia>105 mg/dl, detectable HBc IgG antibodies and cirrhosis. In the group with RS 1 the likelihood of SVR was 70% (p<0.028), while in patients with RS 3 the response was reduced to 23.8% (p<0.016), with no SVR achieved among patients with RS >3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low risk score (0-2) is associated with high probability of treatment success with scores >3 predictive for treatment failure. The presented model is a simple tool for prediction of treatment success for clinical use before PegIFN/RBV treatment initiation among genotype 1 CHC patients.
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland. jurczykkrzysztof@interia.pl
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Jurczyk
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Laurans
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Karpińska
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Wawrzynowicz-Syczewska
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Parczewski
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Boroń-Kaczmarska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D055552:Infectious Disease Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b