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Sustained virological response to pegylated interferon and ribavirin is maintained during long‐term follow‐up of chronic hepatitis C patients
Author(s) -
GIANNINI E. G.,
BASSO M.,
SAVARINO V.,
PICCIOTTO A.
Publication year - 2010
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.1365-2036.2009.04201.x
Subject(s) - ribavirin , medicine , pegylated interferon , cohort , gastroenterology , hepatitis c , hepatitis c virus , chronic hepatitis , immunology , virus
Aliment Pharmacol Ther 31 , 502–508 Summary Background There are few data in the literature regarding the long‐term virological follow‐up of chronic hepatitis C patients who obtain sustained virological response (SVR) to pegylated interferon (PEG‐IFN) and ribavirin therapy. Aim To assess the durability of SVR to PEG‐IFN and ribavirin therapy during long‐term follow‐up of chronic hepatitis C patients. Methods We evaluated a cohort of 231 chronic hepatitis C patients who had at least 48 weeks of follow‐up after SVR to PEG‐IFN and ribavirin treatment. Median duration of follow‐up after SVR was 164 weeks, and exceeded 5 years in 30% of the cohort. Patients underwent consistent clinical, biochemical and virological evaluations every 6 months during follow‐up. Results Sustained virological response was maintained in 211 patients (91%) while HCV‐RNA became positive in two patients (<1%) within 1 year after SVR, and in 18 patients (8%) serum HCV‐RNA was transiently positive in at least one follow‐up evaluation. Clinical outcome was not significantly different between patients with persistently negative and transiently positive serum HCV‐RNA. Conclusions Sustained virological response to PEG‐IFN and ribavirin is maintained in 99% of patients during long‐term follow‐up. Late virological relapse occurred within 1 year after SVR and, from a clinical perspective, patients can be considered cured of infection after this period.