GAMMA GLUTAMYLTRANSFERASE IMPACT IN THERAPEUTIC RESPONSE OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS C: a systematic review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
The standard treatment of chronic hepatitis C is the administration of pegylated interferon α2a or α2b in combination with ribavirin, but adverse effects can be observed, as well as the high cost of this therapy. Therefore, there is interest in understanding the predictors of sustained virologic response, as the gamma glutamyltransferase.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the serum levels of gamma glutamyltransferase as a predictor of response to treatment with pegylated interferon α and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C.


METHODS
This is a systematic review of literature, conducted by consulting PUBMED, LILACS, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Cochrane electronic databases, and active search of articles selected between January 2000 and April 2013.


RESULTS
A total of 4,785 titles were identified. Out of those material, following inclusion and exclusion criteria, 273 abstracts were selected, by two independent researchers. After reading those texts, the reviewers consensually included ten studies for systematization and classification, according to the criteria of the Oxford Scale. 1B studies are predominant (prospective cohort study - six studies). Rapid virologic response and early virological response were considered as estimates for the sustained virological response. The frequency of virologic response was identified in three studies and early virological response in two, with a total of 392 and 413 patients, respectively; sustained virologic response was reported in nine articles corresponding to 3,787 patients (76.5 %).


CONCLUSIONS
Gamma glutamyltransferase is a predictor of sustained virologic response in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C with pegylated interferon α2a or α2b associated with ribavirin.
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, BR.
Maria de Lourdes Albuquerque de
Mde L
Queiroga
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, BR.
Raymundo
R
Paraná
Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, BR.
José Eymard Moraes de
JE
Medeiros Filho
Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campina Grande, PB, BR.
Giovannini Cesar A
GC
Figueiredo
Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campina Grande, PB, BR.
Ananda Peixoto de
AP
Araújo
Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campina Grande, PB, BR.
Hagley Walson Soares
HW
Leite
Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campina Grande, PB, BR.
Itiel de Souza
Ide S
Aquino
Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campina Grande, PB, BR.
Leonardo Honório de A
LH
Melo Neto
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase