BACKGROUND: To date, no study has evaluated pegylated interferon for the treatment of chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 6. We aimed to determine the efficacy of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin for treating infection with genotype 6 versus genotype 1. METHODS: Forty-two patients chronically infected with HCV (for genotype 1, n = 21; for genotype 6, n = 21) were treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2a (n = 20) or alpha-2b (n = 22) combined with oral ribavirin for 48 weeks. RESULTS: There was no difference between genotypes 1 and 6 in the rates of early virological response (76% vs. 81%; P > .05) and end-of-treatment response (71% vs. 81%; ). Patients infected with genotype 6 had a higher rate of sustained virological response (SVR) than did patients infected with genotype 1 (86% vs. 52%; P = .019). The overall adverse-effects profile was similar in both genotype groups. There was no significant difference in the rate of SVR between patients receiving pegylated interferon alpha-2a and those receiving alpha-2b. Multivariate analysis showed that genotype was the only significant factor associated with SVR (P = .039). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for 48 weeks resulted in a significantly higher rate of SVR in patients infected with genotype 6 than in those infected with genotype 1. Further studies are required to determine whether lower dosages and 24 weeks of therapy may be sufficient for the treatment of genotype 6 infection.
BACKGROUND: To date, no study has evaluated pegylated interferon for the treatment of chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 6. We aimed to determine the efficacy of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin for treating infection with genotype 6 versus genotype 1. METHODS: Forty-two patients chronically infected with HCV (for genotype 1, n = 21; for genotype 6, n = 21) were treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2a (n = 20) or alpha-2b (n = 22) combined with oral ribavirin for 48 weeks. RESULTS: There was no difference between genotypes 1 and 6 in the rates of early virological response (76% vs. 81%; P > .05) and end-of-treatment response (71% vs. 81%; ). Patients infected with genotype 6 had a higher rate of sustained virological response (SVR) than did patients infected with genotype 1 (86% vs. 52%; P = .019). The overall adverse-effects profile was similar in both genotype groups. There was no significant difference in the rate of SVR between patients receiving pegylated interferon alpha-2a and those receiving alpha-2b. Multivariate analysis showed that genotype was the only significant factor associated with SVR (P = .039). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for 48 weeks resulted in a significantly higher rate of SVR in patients infected with genotype 6 than in those infected with genotype 1. Further studies are required to determine whether lower dosages and 24 weeks of therapy may be sufficient for the treatment of genotype 6 infection.
Authors: Mei-Hsuan Lee; Tiffany I Hsiao; Shreenidhi R Subramaniam; An K Le; Vinh D Vu; Huy N Trinh; Jian Zhang; Mingjuan Jin; Vincent Wai-Sun Wong; Grace Lai-Hung Wong; Mindie H Nguyen Journal: Am J Gastroenterol Date: 2017-04-25 Impact factor: 10.864
Authors: Van H Pham; Huyen D P Nguyen; Phat T Ho; Dien V Banh; Hoa L T Pham; Phiet H Pham; Ling Lu; Kenji Abe Journal: Jpn J Infect Dis Date: 2011 Impact factor: 1.362