ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Short antiviral therapy has been proposed for patients with chronic hepatitis C, easy genotypes, low fibrosis score, low viral load at baseline, and rapid virological response (RVR). However, this approach is not completely accepted. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were (a) to evaluate the sustained virological response (SVR) in noncirrhotic patients with genotype 2 or 3, achieving an RVR, randomized to receive pegylated-interferon (IFN) α-2b plus ribavirin for either 16 or 24 weeks and (b) to carry out direct cost analysis comparing patients treated for 16 versus 24 weeks. RESULTS: Of the 142 initially evaluated patients, 130 were enrolled according to the selection criteria, but independent of the viral load. According to the intention-to-treat analysis, SVR was achieved in 104 patients (80%). Logistic regression analysis showed that RVR (P<0.001) and genotype 2 (P<0.03) were the most important factors independently associated with SVR. Among patients with RVR, SVR was comparable between patients treated for 16 weeks and those treated for 24 weeks (86.2 vs. 89.7%, P=NS). The mean direct costs were 4003.7 for patients treated for 16 weeks and 5676.7 for those treated for 24 weeks, with a 30% difference between the two arms. CONCLUSION: In patients achieving an RVR, a 16-week treatment with pegylated-interferon plus ribavirin was comparable to a 24-week treatment. Short treatment in patients with RVR allows us to save 30% of the direct costs, independent of the viral load at baseline.