Hepatitis C viral kinetics in Latino patients: a comparison to African American and Caucasian patients.
BACKGROUND
Response to hepatitis C treatment is known to differ by race; and, limited data suggests by ethnicity as well. A lower efficacy of HCV therapy in Latinos has been observed; whether higher doses may improve the response is unknown.


METHODS
This study used the available data from the patients enrolled in the PROGRESS study and stratified it by race and ethnicity. The primary objectives were to evaluate the early viral kinetic pattern in Latino patients and to assess whether it was improved by higher doses of Peg-IFN alfa-2a and/or RBV, as compared to Caucasian and African American patients.


RESULTS
From a total of 1145 patients, 51 (4%) were classified Latino, 886 (77%) Caucasian, 124 (11%) African American and 84 (7%) other. Latinos had a similar virological response between the treatment groups at week 4; but by week 12, achieved a greater response with the higher intensified dose of peginterferon alfa-2a, and remained so at week 72. Caucasians had a greater response at week 4 and week 12 with the intensified dose; but by week 72, the response became similar between the treatment groups. The virological responses for African Americans were unaffected by the doses; and by week 12, were lower than both Latinos and Caucasians. In conclusion, this retrospective analysis provides further evidence for racial/ethnic differences in the response to peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) plus ribavirin therapy in patients with HCV. Although the sample sizes in this analysis are small for generalized conclusions, the findings are of importance to physicians treating Latinos.
Fundación de Investigación, Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. mrodrigueztorres@fdipr.com
Maribel
M
Rodríguez-Torres
Juan
J
Burguera
Deana
D
Hallman
José
J
Rodríguez-Orengo
Michelle
M
Echeandia
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011647:Puerto Rico; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a