Pegylated interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin in patients with genotype 4 chronic hepatitis C: The role of rapid and early virologic response.

Author(s): Kamal SM, El Kamary SS, Shardell MD, Hashem M, Ahmed IN, Muhammadi M, Sayed K, Moustafa A, Hakem SA, Ibrahiem A, Moniem M, Mansour H, Abdelaziz M

Affiliation(s): Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. sanaa.kamal@link.net

Publication date & source: 2007-12, Hepatology., 46(6):1732-40.

Publication type: Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

In patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4, the optimum duration of therapy and the predictors of sustained virologic response (SVR) have not been adequately determined. In this study, 358 patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 4 were randomly assigned to pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alpha-2b (1.5 mug/kg/week) plus oral ribavirin (10.6 mg/kg/day) for a fixed duration of 48 weeks (control group, n = 50) or for a variable duration (n = 318). In the variable-duration group, patients with undetectable HCV RNA at week 4 were treated for 24 weeks (group A, n = 69), patients with undetectable HCV RNA at week 12 were treated for 36 weeks (group B, n = 79), and the rest of the patients were treated for 48 weeks (group C, n = 160). The primary endpoint was SVR (undetectable HCV RNA 24 weeks after treatment cessation). Groups A-C and the control group had SVR rates of 86%, 76%, 56%, and 58%, respectively. After the study was controlled for predictors, a low baseline histologic grade and stage were associated with SVR (P < 0.029) in all groups. In addition, among patients in group C, older age (P = 0.04), a higher baseline body mass index (P = 0.013), and low baseline HCV RNA (P < 0.001) were also associated with SVR attainment. The incidence of adverse events and the rate of discontinuation were higher in patients in the variable-duration and fixed-duration groups treated for 48 weeks. Conclusion: In patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 4 and undetectable HCV RNA at weeks 4 and 12, treatment with PEG-IFN alpha-2b and ribavirin for 24 weeks and 36 weeks, respectively, is sufficient.