title: Comparison of the efficacy of 12 months and longer courses of interferon therapy for the treatment of chronic delta hepatitis: a retrospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interferon (IFN) therapy is associated with low rates of treatment success and high rates of recurrence in hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection. Several strategies to increase efficacy, including extending the treatment duration, have been tested. This study aimed to compare treatment outcomes between patients receiving 12 months vs. longer courses of interferon therapy for chronic delta hepatitis (CDH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from CDH patients receiving standard or pegylated IFN therapy were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups: group I received ≤12 months of therapy and group II received >12 months (maximum: 24 months) of therapy. Viral response at the end of treatment (EOT-VR), post-treatment week 24 viral response (PTW24- VR) and viral response after long-term follow-up (LTFU-VR) were compared. Parameters affecting virologic response were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-five patients, 14 in group I and 51 in group II, were included. The EOT-VRs were 21% and 45% (p > 0.05), and the PTW24-VRs were 7% and 41% (p = 0.02), respectively. Recurrence rates were 66% and 17% in Groups I and II, respectively. The LTFU-VRs were 7% and 37%, respectively (p = 0.04). The HDV RNA at week 24 of treatment was the only parameter significantly affecting the PTW24-VR (odds ratio: 71.2; 95% CI: 3.7-1353, p = 0.005). PTW24-VR was achieved in 68% and 5% of patients with negative and positive HDV RNA, respectively, at week 24 of treatment (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IFN treatment for up to 24 months may increase the virologic response rate for CDH. HDV RNA negativity at week 24 of treatment was a significant predictor of virologic response.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gastroenterohepatology , Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem Mutluay
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Soyer
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gastroenterohepatology , Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baran
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gastroenterohepatology , Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Aslı Ciftcibasi
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ormeci
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gastroenterohepatology , Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Suut
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gokturk
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gastroenterohepatology , Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aydın
authors.affiliation: b Department of Microbiology , Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Onel
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pathology , Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Mine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gulluoglu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gastroenterohepatology , Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Cetin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karaca
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gastroenterohepatology , Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akyuz
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gastroenterohepatology , Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Kadir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gastroenterohepatology , Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Besisik
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gastroenterohepatology , Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Sabahattin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaymakoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D003699:Hepatitis D; D019701:Hepatitis D, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000072230:Sustained Virologic Response; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D007372:Interferons
keywords: Chronic delta hepatitis; interferon; virological response