Virological responses in chronic hepatitis C patients undergoing prolonged therapy with low-dose Peg-IFNα-2a.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Standard dose therapy with pegylated interferon α-2a (Peg-IFNα-2a) and ribavirin is not suitable for all patients because of the side effects. This study aims to evaluate the virological responses of low-dose but long-course Peg-IFNα-2a therapy compared with standard therapy. METHODOLOGY: Ninety patients with chronic hepatitis C were divided into three groups according to their tolerance to Peg-IFNα-2a. The courses of treatment were 96 or 48 weeks respectively in patients with HCV genotypes 1b or 2a in the 67.5 µg and 90 µg groups, and were 48 or 24 weeks in the 180 µg groups. Serum HCV RNA was quantified to determine RVR, EVR, SVR and ETR. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in HCV RNA load, HCV genotype at the baseline of the three groups (p>0.05). The rates of RVR, EVR, SVR and ETR (no significant differences in each group), were 63.04%, 82.61%, 71.74% and 85.87% in all 92 patients. Genotype 1b (95% CI=11.97-82.89; p=0.0075) and RVR (95% CI=0.12-0.53; p<0.001) were important predictors of SVR. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with low-dose but long-course Peg-IFNα-2a therapy had similar virological responses compared to those with standard therapy. HCV genotype and RVR were independent predictors of SVR.

[The virological response in prolonged therapy of chronic hepatitis C with low-dose peginterferon alpha-2a].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the virological response in prolonged therapy of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with low-dose peginterferon alpha-2a. METHODS: The 92 cases of in-patients with chronic hepatitis C in September 2004 to September 2006 were divided to three groups according the endurance of interferon. The dose of peginterferon alpha-2a was 67.5 microg, 90 microg and 180 microg per week in group A, B and C respectively. The treatment duration of peginterferon alpha-2a was 96 or 48 weeks in HCV genotype 1b and 2a in group A and B, and in the group C the duration was 48 or 24 weeks in genotype 1b and 2a patients respectively. Meanwhile, ribavirin for 900-1200 mg per day combined treated with all patients. The quantitation of serum HCV RNA were conducted to determine the rapid virological response (RVR), early virological response (EVR) and sustained virological response (SVR) respectively. RESULTS: There were no significant difference between the three groups in the rate of RVR, EVR and SVR (P > 0.05). There was a higer rate of RVR, EVR and SVR in the genotype 2a group than the genotype 1b group (P < 0.05). HCV genotype was the independent predictor (OR = 12.78, 95%, CI = 11.97-82.89, P = 0.0075) of SVR. CONCLUSION: There was a similar virological response between prolonged therapy of chronic hepatitis C with low-dose peginterferon alpha-2a and the standard dose and duration. The genotype was the independent predictors of SVR in peginterferon alpha-2a antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis C.