title: End treatment response and sustained viral response in hepatitis C virus genotype 3 among Pakistani population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the end treatment response (ETR) and sustained viral response (SVR) to interferon (IFN) and ribavirin in hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3 in the Pakistani population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an interventional study conducted from January 2010 to December 2012 in Lyari General Hospital and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi, outpatients department.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 3 infections were included. Patients with decompensated chronic liver disease, or having coexisting hepatitis B virus/human immunodeficiency virus were excluded. All patients received IFN alpha, 3 million international units (MIU), subcutaneously 3 times weekly and ribavirin > 800 mg/d for a period of 6 months. Outcome parameters included ETR (negative polymerase chain reaction [PCR] at the end of therapy), SVR (negative PCR both at the end of treatment and 6 months later), and relapse (PCR negative at the end of treatment but positive 6 months later) were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1170 patients were included with a female to male ratio of 1.64:1 and a mean age of 31.6 (8.4) years. Among 1170 patients, 985 completed the therapy as per the protocol, 119 were defaulted (treatment abandoned before completion), and 66 had to stop treatment due to side effects. ETR was 74.1%, SVR was 98%, relapse rate was 1.5%, and 10.1% were nonresponders. SVR was seen only in patients who had achieved an ETR (n=867). SVR was achieved in 848 patients (out of 867) (98%), relapse was seen in 13 (1.5%), and 6 (0.7%) patients lost follow-up after stopping treatment. Patients achieving ETR and SVR had a mean serum alanine aminotransferase of 71.3 (57.1) and 71.0 (56.5), respectively, which is approximately twice the upper normal limit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The conventional IFN and ribavirin therapy in genotype 3 chronic HCV-infected patients gives an ETR and SVR of 74.1% and 98%, respectively.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amir
authors.forename: Attiya Sabeen
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Qaiser
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jamal
authors.affiliation: Muhammad Asadullah Siddiqui, School of Health Sciences,, Queen Margaret University,, Queen Margaret University Drive,, Edinburgh EH21 6UU, United Kingdom, T: +44 7828792588, F: +44 131 474 0001, msiddiqui@qmu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Muhammad Asadullah
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012008:Recurrence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin