title: Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcome of Peginterferon Plus Ribavirin in Patients Infected with Genotype 6 Hepatitis C Virus in Korea: A Multicenter Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Because of the limited geographic distribution, there have been insufficient data regarding hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 6 in Korea. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and available treatment outcomes of patients with genotype 6 HCV in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2004 to 2014, data were collected from Korean patients infected with genotype 6 HCV in eight hospitals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-two patients had genotype 6 HCV. The median age was 44 years, and 6c was the most common subtype. The baseline median alanine transaminase level was 88 (21 to 1,019) IU/mL, and the HCV RNA level was 1,405,000 (96,500 to 28,844,529) IU/mL. Twenty-five patients were treated with peginterferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin. Three follow-up losses occurred. Additionally, 13 patients attained a sustained virologic response (SVR), seven patients relapsed, and two patients exhibited a null response. The SVR rates were 40% and 75% for the 24- and more than 48-week treatments, respectively, and five of the six patients who achieved a rapid virologic response (RVR) attained a SVR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Korean patients infected with genotype 6 HCV are relatively young, and 6c is the most common subtype. When treated with PEG-IFN and ribavirin, the SVR rate was 52%. Similar to other genotypes, a longer duration of treatment and attainment of RVR are important for SVR.
authors.affiliation: Health Care Center, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon, Korea.|Department of Internal Medicine, Kangwon National University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Su Rin
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: June Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gimpo Woori Hospital, Gimpo, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Myung
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Sook-Hyang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Myung Seok
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000072230:Sustained Virologic Response
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin
keywords: Genotype 6; Hepatitis C, chronic; Peginterferon alfa; Ribavirin