Open AccessRapid virological response assessment by Abbott RealTime hepatitis C virus assay for predicting sustained virological responses in patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 treated with pegylated‐interferon and ribavirin
Author(s) -
Su Peiyuan,
Yen HsuHeng,
Hsu YuChun,
Wu ShunSheng,
Kor ChewTeng,
Su WeiWen
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the kaohsiung journal of medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.439
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2410-8650
pISSN - 1607-551X
DOI - 10.1016/j.kjms.2016.06.002
Subject(s) - medicine , ribavirin , pegylated interferon , virology , hepatitis c virus , genotype , virus , interferon , gene , biology , biochemistry
Abstract The lower limits of virus detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA detection assays are continuously improving. We aimed to assess the utility of more precise definition of 4 th week viral load [rapid virological response (RVR)] in predicting sustained virological response (SVR) in HCV genotype 1 patients treated with pegylated‐interferon (PEG‐IFN) and ribavirin. Clinical data of treatment‐naïve HCV genotype 1 patients were retrospectively collected from 2009 to 2014. Patients were grouped according to 4 th week viral load as follows: undetectable ( n = 90) and detectable but not quantifiable (< 12 IU/mL, n = 27). All patients received PEG‐IFNα‐2a or ‐2b and ribavirin for 24 weeks. Serum HCV RNA levels were measured by Abbott RealTime (ART; Abbott Molecular, Abbott Park, IL, USA) HCV assay. SVR was 95.5% and 63% in the undetectable group and < 12 IU/mL group of 4 th week viral load, respectively. The between‐group difference in SVR was significant ( p < 0.001). We determined 4 th week viral load was independently associated with SVR (odds ratio = 19.28; p = 0.002) and a good predictor of SVR [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.775; p = 0.001]. ART HCV assays had a stronger SVR predictive value in HCV genotype 1 patients, indicating that only the undetectable group of 4 th week viral load patients measured by ART HCV assay should be considered for shorter treatment time (24 weeks) with PEG‐IFN and ribavirin.