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Effectiveness of pegylated interferon/ribavirin combination in ‘real world’ patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection
Author(s) -
BORRONI G.,
ANDREOLETTI M.,
CASIRAGHI M. A.,
CERIANI R.,
GUERZONI P.,
OMAZZI B.,
TERRENI N.,
SALERNO F.
Publication year - 2008
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.1365-2036.2008.03657.x
Subject(s) - ribavirin , medicine , pegylated interferon , discontinuation , population , hepatitis c virus , hepatitis c , clinical trial , combination therapy , randomized controlled trial , gastroenterology , virus , immunology , environmental health
Summary Background Clinical trials have shown that the combination of pegylated interferon/ribavirin induces a sustained virological response in 54–63% of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection, but its effectiveness in day‐to‐day clinical practice is less clear. Aim To verify if the efficacy of pegylated interferon/ribavirin combination in ‘real world’ patients is comparable to that observed in trials. Methods The medical records of 397 consecutive naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection treated with pegylated interferon/ribavirin combination in nontertiary hospital settings were reviewed in order to assess the response to anti‐viral treatment. Results The sustained virological response rate achieved in this population was similar to that recorded in registration trials (total population: 64%; genotype 1: 46%; genotypes 2–3: 84%). Also, the premature discontinuation rate (15%) was similar to that observed in registration trials, but there were fewer dose reductions in one or both medications (26%). We confirmed the association between adherence and sustained virological response among the patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 who were treated for ≥80% of the planned duration of treatment. Conclusion The effectiveness of pegylated interferon/ribavirin therapy and factors predicting an sustained virological response in everyday clinical practice mirror those reported in randomized‐controlled studies.