title: Optimal duration of treatment for HCV genotype 1 infection in slow responders: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A head-to-head comparison of the 72-week and 48-week anti-HCV therapies in slow responders with genotype 1 infection has been performed in several randomized clinical trials (RCTs).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This review aimed at summarizing and pooling the results of these studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  RCTs that had evaluated the 72-week vs. 48-week anti-HCV therapy (peginterferon and ribavirin) in slow responders with HCV genotype 1 infection were systematically identified. A meta-analysis was performed using the random effects model. Heterogeneity in results was assessed on the basis of the Q statistics, and publication bias was evaluated by using Harbord's modified test. The end point was set as a sustained virological response (SVR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data of 1206 subjects were retrieved from 7 studies. A total of 631 patients had received extended therapy. Slow virological responders who received the 72-week therapy had a significantly higher probability of achieving SVR than their counterpartswho received the 48-week therapy [RR = 1.44 (95% CI, 1.20-1.73)]. With regard to publication biases, the heterogeneity in funnel plots was not significant (P = 0.19, I2 = 30%, PHarbord = 0.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our meta-analysis showed that the 72-week therapy with peginterferon and ibavirin is significantly superior to the standard 48-week therapy in slow responders th HCV genotype 1 infection.
authors.affiliation: Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. editor@hepmon.com
authors.forename: Seyed Moayed
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alavian
authors.forename: Seyed Vahid
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Tabatabaei
authors.forename: Bita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Behnava
authors.forename: Nastaran
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mahboobi