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 > or =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.
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 > or =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.
Authors: Andreas Maieron; Sigrid Metz-Gercek; Franz Hackl; Alexander Ziachehabi; Harri Fuchsteiner; Christoph Luger; Helmut Mittermayer; Rainer Schöfl Journal: Wien Klin Wochenschr Date: 2010-04 Impact factor: 1.704
Authors: N Deborah Friedman; Joanne H Green; Hanna M Weber; Shiny Stephen; Stephen E Lane; Alvin Y Ting; Jonathan P Watson Journal: J Clin Exp Hepatol Date: 2014-07-25
Authors: Louis Macgregor; Zoe Ward; Natasha K Martin; Jane Nicholls; Monica Desai; Ford Hickson; Peter Weatherburn; Matthew Hickman; Peter Vickerman Journal: J Viral Hepat Date: 2021-04-01 Impact factor: 3.517