HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Immediate virological response predicts the success of short-term peg-interferon monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C.

AbstractAIM:
To investigate the efficacy of short-term peg-interferon (PEG-IFN) monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C patients who achieved an immediate virological response.
METHODS:
Defining an "immediate virological response (IVR)" as the loss of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA 7 d after the first administration of PEG-IFN alpha, we conducted a 12-wk course of PEG-IFN alpha2a monotherapy without the addition of ribavirin for 38 patients who had low pretreatment HCV RNA load and exhibited IVR. The patients included 21 men and 17 women, whose ages ranged from 22 to 77 years (mean +/- SD: 52.0 +/- 17.8 years). There were 4 patients with HCV genotype 1b, 23 patients with genotype 2a and 4 patients with genotype 2b. HCV genotype was not determined for the remaining 7 patients. Patients were categorized into a sustained virological response (SVR) group, if serum HCV RNA remained negative for 24 wk after the end of treatment, or into a relapse group.
RESULTS:
Based on the intention-to-treat analysis, 35 patients (92.1%) achieved SVR. One patient (2.6%) relapsed with serum HCV RNA 12 wk after the end of treatment. Two patients (5.3%) withdrew from the study during the 24-wk follow-up period. With regard to the HCV RNA genotype, the SVR rates were 100% (4/4) for genotype 1b, 95.7% (22/23) for genotype 2a and 100% (4/4) for genotype 2b. The SVR rate in 7 patients, whose HCV RNA genotypes were not determined, was 71.4% (5/7).
CONCLUSION:
Short-term PEG-IFN alpha2a monotherapy is highly effective for chronic hepatitis C patients who have low pretreatment HCV RNA load and exhibit IVR.
AuthorsMasayoshi Yada, Akihide Masumoto, Naoki Yamashita, Kenta Motomura, Toshimasa Koyanagi, Shigeru Sakamoto
JournalWorld journal of gastroenterology (World J Gastroenterol) Vol. 16 Issue 12 Pg. 1506-11 (Mar 28 2010) ISSN: 2219-2840 [Electronic] United States
PMID20333792 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Chemical References
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • RNA, Viral
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • peginterferon alfa-2a
Topics
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antiviral Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Hepacivirus (genetics)
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic (diagnosis, drug therapy)
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyethylene Glycols (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • RNA, Viral (blood)
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Recurrence
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Viral Load
  • Young Adult

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: