title: Low-Dose Pegylated Interferon α-2b Plus Ribavirin for Elderly and/or Cirrhotic Patients with Genotype 2 Hepatitis C Virus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to predict sustained viral response (SVR) to low-dose pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin of elderly and/or cirrhotic patients with genotype 2 hepatitis C virus (HCV) using viral response within 2 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Low-dose PEG-IFN-α-2b plus ribavirin was administered to 50 elderly and/or cirrhotic patients with genotype 2 HCV for 24 weeks. The dynamics of HCV RNA and HCV core antigen levels within 2 weeks were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients' median age was 66 years. There were 21 male and 29 female patients. The median baseline HCV RNA level was 5.7 log IU/mL. Rapid viral response was achieved in 17 patients (34%), SVR in 28 (56%), and two (4%) discontinued treatment. Univariate analysis of factors contributing to SVR showed significant differences for sex, baseline virus level, and response within 4 weeks. When 40 fmol/L was set as the cutoff value for the core antigen level at 1 week, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy for predicting SVR were 93%, 75%, 84%, 88%, and 85%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-dose PEG-IFN plus ribavirin was a safe and costeffective treatment for elderly and/or cirrhotic patients with genotype 2 HCV, and the viral response within 2 weeks was a useful predictor of SVR.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamai
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shingaki
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Kosaku
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moribata
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Naga Municipal Hospital, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawashima
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Niwa
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisanobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deguchi
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Izumi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maekita
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Mikitaka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iguchi
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ichinose
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012372:ROC Curve; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b
keywords: Elderly; Hepacivirus; Liver cirrhosis; Pegylated interferon; Ribavirin