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Long‐term follow‐up of chronic hepatitis C patients with sustained virological response to various forms of interferon‐based anti‐viral therapy
Author(s) -
FORMANN E.,
STEINDLMUNDA P.,
HOFER H.,
JESSNER W.,
BERGHOLZ U.,
GURGUTA C.,
FERENCI P.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2006.02785.x
Subject(s) - ribavirin , medicine , pegylated interferon , gastroenterology , interferon , hepatitis c , alpha interferon , cirrhosis , viral load , hepatitis c virus , immunology , virus
Summary Background Combination anti‐viral therapy achieves a sustained virological response (defined as HCV‐RNA negativity 6 months after the end of therapy) of 56% of patients with chronic hepatitis C. Little is known about long‐term durability of HCV‐RNA negativity in patient treated with pegylated interferon. Aim To evaluate the durability of virologic response in patients with sustained virological response to anti‐viral therapy treated at our centre. Methods A total of 187 sustained virological responses (50% genotype 1, 42% genotype 2 or 3 and 8% genotype 4; 20% with cirrhosis) with a follow‐up of >12 months post‐therapy were studied. Twelve patients received monotherapy with interferon‐alpha2a or −2b. One hundred and seventy‐five received combination therapy with ribavirin and standard interferon‐alpha ( n = 73) or pegylated interferon‐alpha2a or 2b ( n = 102). Qualitative serum HCV‐RNA was tested by COBAS AMPLICOR HCV test, v2.0. Results Median follow‐up time was 29 months (range 12–172). Recurrence of HCV infection was not observed in any of the 187 sustained virological responders. Alanine aminotransferase values were normal in 90% and two patients showed minimal elevation of alpha‐fetoprotein levels. Conclusions No recurrence of HCV infection was seen in any patient. Thus, long‐term prognosis in chronic hepatitis C patients with a sustained virological response to therapy with pegylated interferon ± ribavirin is promising, but long‐term studies need to continue.