title: Efficacy of peginterferon alpha-2A and ribavirin combination therapy in treatment-naive Estonian patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) alpha-2a and ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy in treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis C in Estonia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Out of 121 outpatients with chronic hepatitis C (73 males, 48 females, aged 19-63) enrolled in the study, 76 were infected with HCV genotype 1b and 45 with genotype 3a. At baseline, the viral load in 75.2% of patients was higher than 600,000 IU/mL. Histologically, 88.4% of patients had fibrosis score F0-2. Patients received 180 microg of Peg-IFN alpha-2a weekly plus daily ribavirin 1,000 or 1,200 mg, depending on body weight, in HCV genotype 1b, or 800 mg/day in genotype 3a infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall sustained virologic response (SVR) rate in our study was 60.3%, being statistically lower for patients with HCV genotype 1b as compared to patients with genotype 3a (46.1% vs. 84.4%, p < 0.05). The non-response and relapse rates were significantly higher in patients infected with HCV genotype 1b compared with patients infected with genotype 3a (19.7% vs. 2.2%, p = 0.01; and 17.1% vs. 4.4%, p = 0.04; respectively). The SVR rate was higher in patients younger than 40 years compared with older patients (76.4% vs. 47.0%, p < 0.01), regardless of the genotype. Thirteen patients infected with HCV genotype 1b required dose reduction of PegIFN and/or RBV because of adverse side effects. Nine of them achieved SVR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV genotype and age younger than 40 years predetermined SVR rate in treatment-naive Estonian patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with Peg-IFN alpha-2a plus ribavirin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Intemal Medicine, West-Tallinn Central Hospital, Tallinn, Estonia. vbrjalin@gmail.com
authors.forename: Vadim
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brjalin
authors.forename: Riina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salupere
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tallo
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuznetsova
authors.forename: Ljudmilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Priimägi
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tefanova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004957:Estonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012737:Sex Factors; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a