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Effectiveness and safety of reduced‐dose telaprevir‐based triple therapy in chronic hepatitis C patients
Author(s) -
Sezaki Hitomi,
Suzuki Fumitaka,
Hosaka Tetsuya,
Akuta Norio,
Fukushima Taito,
Hara Tasuku,
Kawamura Yusuke,
Kobayashi Masahiro,
Suzuki Yoshiyuki,
Saitoh Satoshi,
Arase Yasuji,
Ikeda Kenji,
Kumada Hiromitsu
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/hepr.12268
Subject(s) - telaprevir , ribavirin , discontinuation , medicine , pegylated interferon , gastroenterology , regimen , hepatitis c virus , pharmacology , virology , virus
Aim To compare the early virological effectiveness, sustained virological response and safety of telaprevir 1500 mg/day with telaprevir 2250 mg/day, when combined in triple therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin in Japanese patients with high viral loads of genotype 1 hepatitis C virus. Methods The telaprevir 2250 mg/day and 1500 mg/day groups each contained 60 patients matched by age, sex and history of previous interferon‐based treatment. Serum levels of genotype 1 hepatitis C virus RNA , hemoglobin levels, drug adherence and drug discontinuation rates were monitored during and after triple therapy. Results Patients receiving telaprevir 1500 mg/day had significantly lower telaprevir adherence and lower initial ribavirin dose but similar or superior pegylated interferon and ribavirin adherence and a lower rate of telaprevir discontinuation than did those receiving telaprevir 2250 mg/day. The early virological responses and sustained virological response rates were similar in both groups. Hemoglobin levels decreased to a greater extent in patients treated with telaprevir 2250 mg/day. Conclusion Compared to triple therapy including telaprevir 2250 mg/day, that including telaprevir at a reduced dose of 1500 mg/day was associated with lower rates of anemia and similar antiviral efficacy. Such a regimen may meaningfully improve sustained virological response rates, especially among female and elderly Japanese patients.