title: Pre-treatment prediction of response to peginterferon plus ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C genotype 3.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate pre-treatment factors associated with sustained virological response (SVR) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3 treated with peginterferon and ribavirin (RBV).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed treatment naive, mono-infected HCV genotype 3 patients treated with peginterferon and RBV. Exclusion criteria included presence of other liver disease, alcohol consumption and African American or Asian ethnicity. The variables collected and compared between patients who achieved an SVR and patients who did not were as follows: gender, age, fibrosis stage, diabetes, body mass index, steatosis, INFL3 polymorphism, pre-treatment HCV-RNA, type of peginterferon, RBV dose and adherence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 107 patients treated between June, 2004 and March, 2013 were included. Mean treatment duration was 25.1 (± 1.8) wk. Overall, 58% (62/107) of the patients achieved an SVR and 42% (45/107) did not. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, pre-treatment HCV-RNA ≥ 600000 UI/mL (OR = 0.375, 95%CI: 0.153-0.919, P = 0.032) and advanced fibrosis (OR = 0.278, 95%CI: 0.113-0.684, P = 0.005) were significantly associated with low SVR rates. In patients with pre-treatment HCV-RNA ≥ 600000 UI/mL and advanced fibrosis, the probability of achieving an SVR was 29% (95%CI: 13.1-45.2). In patients with pre-treatment HCV-RNA < 600000 UI/mL and mild to moderate fibrosis, the probability of achieving an SVR was 81% (95%CI: 68.8-93.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with HCV genotype 3 infections the presence of advance fibrosis and high pre-treatment viral load might be associated with poor response to peginterferon plus RBV. These patients could benefit the most from new direct antiviral agents-based regimes.
authors: Sebastián Marciano, Omar A Galdame, Adrián C Gadano, Liver Unit, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Sebastián
authors: S
authors: Marciano
authors: Sebastián Marciano, Omar A Galdame, Adrián C Gadano, Liver Unit, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Silvia M
authors: SM
authors: Borzi
authors: Sebastián Marciano, Omar A Galdame, Adrián C Gadano, Liver Unit, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Melisa
authors: M
authors: Dirchwolf
authors: Sebastián Marciano, Omar A Galdame, Adrián C Gadano, Liver Unit, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Ezequiel
authors: E
authors: Ridruejo
authors: Sebastián Marciano, Omar A Galdame, Adrián C Gadano, Liver Unit, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Mendizabal
authors: Sebastián Marciano, Omar A Galdame, Adrián C Gadano, Liver Unit, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Bessone
authors: Sebastián Marciano, Omar A Galdame, Adrián C Gadano, Liver Unit, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: María E
authors: ME
authors: Sirotinsky
authors: Sebastián Marciano, Omar A Galdame, Adrián C Gadano, Liver Unit, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Diego H
authors: DH
authors: Giunta
authors: Sebastián Marciano, Omar A Galdame, Adrián C Gadano, Liver Unit, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Julieta
authors: J
authors: Trinks
authors: Sebastián Marciano, Omar A Galdame, Adrián C Gadano, Liver Unit, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Pablo A
authors: PA
authors: Olivera
authors: Sebastián Marciano, Omar A Galdame, Adrián C Gadano, Liver Unit, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Omar A
authors: OA
authors: Galdame
authors: Sebastián Marciano, Omar A Galdame, Adrián C Gadano, Liver Unit, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Marcelo O
authors: MO
authors: Silva
authors: Sebastián Marciano, Omar A Galdame, Adrián C Gadano, Liver Unit, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Hugo A
authors: HA
authors: Fainboim
authors: Sebastián Marciano, Omar A Galdame, Adrián C Gadano, Liver Unit, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Adrián C
authors: AC
authors: Gadano
keywords: Cirrhosis; Direct antiviral agents; Sofosbuvir; Sustained virological response; Viral load