Sustained virological response after treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection--a five year follow up.
Peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin combination therapy achieves a sustained virological response (SVR) in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Little is know about long-term durability of hepatitis C virus--Ribonucleic acid (HCV-RNA) negativity in patient treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy. Aim of this study was to evaluate the durability of virologic response in patients with SVR to anti-viral therapy treated at our centre. A total of 52 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection who had obtained SVR after Peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin combination therapy were followed up to 5 years with annual HCV-RNA testing. During this follow up period, 4 of 52 patients with initial SVR developed late relapse of hepatitis C virus infection. Relapse was more common in patients who has cirrhosis (3/6 [50%]) vs (1/46 [2.17%]) without cirrhosis. In conclusion, SVR is durable in most patients, but some patients do have late relapse; long-term follow up may be particularly important in a subset of patients with hepatitis C virus infection who have liver cirrhosis.
Department of Gastroenterology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka. zahidgastro@yahoo.com
M Z
MZ
Rahman
D S
DS
Ahmed
H
H
Masud
S
S
Parveen
M A
MA
Rahman
M S
MS
Chowdhury
R
R
Barua
S M
SM
Ishaque
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001459:Bangladesh; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a