Low-Dose Pegylated Interferon α-2b Plus Ribavirin for Elderly and/or Cirrhotic Patients with Genotype 2 Hepatitis C Virus
Gut and Liver
; : 617-623, 2016.
Article
in En
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-164310
Responsible library:
WPRO
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: 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 cost-effective treatment for elderly and/or cirrhotic patients with genotype 2 HCV, and the viral response within 2 weeks was a useful predictor of SVR.
Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
WPRIM
Main subject:
Ribavirin
/
RNA
/
Sensitivity and Specificity
/
Interferons
/
Hepatitis C
/
Hepacivirus
/
Genotype
/
Hepatitis
/
Liver Cirrhosis
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Gut and Liver
Year:
2016
Document type:
Article