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Early identification of achieving a sustained virological response in chronic hepatitis C patients without a rapid virological response
Author(s) -
Huang ChungFeng,
Yang JengFu,
Huang JeeFu,
Dai ChiaYen,
Chiu ChangFu,
Hou NaiJen,
Hsieh MingYen,
Lin ZuYau,
Chen ShinnCherng,
Hsieh MingYuh,
Wang LiangYen,
Chang WenYu,
Chuang WanLong,
Yu MingLung
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2009.06148.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ribavirin , gastroenterology , regimen , hepatitis c virus , viral load , hepatitis c , multivariate analysis , sofosbuvir , immunology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , virus
Background and Aim: A number of hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients without a rapid virological response (RVR) achieved a sustained virological response (SVR) with peginterferon‐α‐2a/ribavirin. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with SVR in non‐RVR patients. Methods: Baseline and on‐treatment factors were used to explore the prognostic factors for SVR in 113 HCV genotype‐1 (HCV‐1) and 20 HCV‐2 non‐RVR patients in two randomized trials. Results: The SVR rate in HCV‐1 patients with a complete early virological response (cEVR) and partial early virological response was 91.9% versus 45% ( P < 0.001) and 21.4% versus 10% ( P = 0.62), respectively, after 48 and 24 weeks of treatment. The SVR rate in HCV‐2 patients with a cEVR was 90.9% versus 57.1% ( P = 0.25), respectively, after 24 and 16 weeks of treatment. Multivariate analysis showed that cEVR and standard regimen were independently associated with SVR. Viral kinetic study revealed that HCV viral loads < 10 000 IU/mL at week 4 were the best predictor of cEVR for both HCV‐1 and HCV‐2 non‐RVR patients with the accuracy of 81% and 95%, respectively, and also of SVR with the accuracy of 78% and 92%, respectively, in patients receiving standard of care. The most important independent predictors for cEVR were HCV viral loads < 10 4 IU/mL at week 4, followed by increased ribavirin dose within 12 weeks of treatment. Conclusions: Achieving a cEVR with standard of care is the most important predictor of SVR in non‐RVR patients. Week 4 viral loads < 10 000 IU/mL could accurately predict cEVR early and following SVR in non‐SVR patients.