title: Peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C virus mixed genotype infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The treatment efficacy of peginterferon plus ribavirin for patients with HCV genotype 1 is inferior to that in patients with HCV genotype 2, but the efficacy among patients with mixed HCV genotype 1 + 2 is less clear. We compared the treatment outcome of peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin among naïve chronic hepatitis C patients in Taiwan with HCV genotype 1 and 2, and mixed genotype 1 + 2.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective cohort study, 150 patients were treated with peginterferon alpha-2b once weekly, plus ribavirin, for 24 weeks. The endpoint was sustained virological response after receiving at least one dose of the study medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in clinical characteristics among the 3 groups. There were significant differences in rapid virological response rate between patients with genotype 1 and genotype 2 (64.7 vs. 85.5%, respectively; p < 0.05) and a sustained virological response rate (55.9 vs. 83.6%, respectively; p = 0.001). The rapid virological response rate differed between the genotype 1 and mixed genotype 1 + 2 groups (64.7 vs. 85.2%, respectively; p < 0.05), but the sustained virological response rate was similar (55.9 vs. 74.1%; p = 0.101).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin for 24 weeks to treat patients with HCV genotype 1 + 2 achieved a 74.1% sustained virological response rate; the treatment efficacy was not inferior to patients with HCV genotype 1, but the percentage of liver cirrhosis in mixed genotype 1 + 2 group was higher to 22%, it is worth to be appropriately valued and studied.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Chung
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung Branch, Taitung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung Branch, Taitung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Huan-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung Branch, Taitung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: I-Tsung
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shen-Yung
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsang-En
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Horng-Yuan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shou-Chuan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung Branch, Taitung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Jong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bair
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D060085:Coinfection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b