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.
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 Cpatients with a sustained virological response to therapy with pegylated interferon +/- ribavirin is promising, but long-term studies need to continue.
Authors: Craig E Gordon; Katrin Uhlig; Christopher H Schmid; Andrew S Levey; John B Wong Journal: Clin J Am Soc Nephrol Date: 2011-07-22 Impact factor: 8.237
Authors: Filomena Morisco; Rocco Granata; Tommaso Stroffolini; Maria Guarino; Laura Donnarumma; Laura Gaeta; Ilaria Loperto; Ivan Gentile; Francesco Auriemma; Nicola Caporaso Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2013-05-14 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: C Koh; T Heller; V Haynes-Williams; K Hara; X Zhao; J J Feld; D E Kleiner; Y Rotman; M G Ghany; T J Liang; J H Hoofnagle Journal: Aliment Pharmacol Ther Date: 2013-03-06 Impact factor: 8.171
Authors: Sang Bun Choi; Youn Jae Lee; Jae Ik Lee; Young Jin Song; Byoung Jin Choi; Jong Han Kim; Eun Uk Jung; Sung Jae Park; Sang Heon Lee; Ji Hyun Kim; Jung Sik Choi; Sam Ryong Jee; Sang Yong Seol Journal: Korean J Hepatol Date: 2011-09