Sustained Virological Response after 8-Week Treatment of Simeprevir with Peginterferon α-2a plus Ribavirin in a Japanese Female with Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1b and IL28B Minor Genotype.
Direct-acting antivirals with or without peginterferon α (PEG-IFN α) plus ribavirin are now available for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Direct-acting antivirals are potent inhibitors of HCV replication, but some of them occasionally possess serious adverse events. We experienced a 64-year-old female with chronic HCV genotype 1b infection who showed elevated alanine aminotransferase of 528 IU/l at week 9 after the commencement of treatment of simeprevir with PEG-IFN α-2a plus ribavirin. However, she achieved sustained virological response at week 24 after the end of treatment. In Japan, we also have to treat elderly patients infected with HCV and/or advanced hepatic fibrosis. Until an effective interferon-free regimen is established, direct-acting antivirals with PEG-IFN plus ribavirin may still play a role in the treatment for certain patients. To avoid serious results from adverse events, careful attention and follow-up will be needed in the treatment course of simeprevir with PEG-IFN plus ribavirin for chronic HCV infection.
Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Tatsuo
T
Kanda
Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Masato
M
Nakamura
Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Reina
R
Sasaki
Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Shin
S
Yasui
Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Shingo
S
Nakamoto
Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Yuki
Y
Haga
Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Xia
X
Jiang
Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Shuang
S
Wu
Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Akinobu
A
Tawada
Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Makoto
M
Arai
Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Fumio
F
Imazeki
Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Osamu
O
Yokosuka
Hepatitis C virus; Peginterferon; Ribavirin; Simeprevir; Sustained virological response