AIM: 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.
AIM: To investigate the efficacy of short-term peg-interferon (PEG-IFN) monotherapy for chronic hepatitis Cpatients 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 Cpatients who have low pretreatment HCV RNA load and exhibit IVR.
Authors: H Nomura; Y Kimura; H Tada; C Hisano; C Morita; O Okamoto; G Shiraishi; S Kashiwagi Journal: J Clin Gastroenterol Date: 1996-10 Impact factor: 3.062
Authors: M P Manns; J G McHutchison; S C Gordon; V K Rustgi; M Shiffman; R Reindollar; Z D Goodman; K Koury; M Ling; J K Albrecht Journal: Lancet Date: 2001-09-22 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Thomas Berg; Michael von Wagner; Samer Nasser; Christoph Sarrazin; Tobias Heintges; Tilman Gerlach; Peter Buggisch; Tobias Goeser; Jens Rasenack; Gerd R Pape; Wolfgang E Schmidt; Birgit Kallinowski; Hartwig Klinker; Ulrich Spengler; Peter Martus; Ulrich Alshuth; Stefan Zeuzem Journal: Gastroenterology Date: 2006-04 Impact factor: 22.682
Authors: Gary L Davis; John B Wong; John G McHutchison; Michael P Manns; Joann Harvey; Janice Albrecht Journal: Hepatology Date: 2003-09 Impact factor: 17.425
Authors: K Yoshioka; S Kakumu; T Wakita; T Ishikawa; Y Itoh; M Takayanagi; Y Higashi; M Shibata; T Morishima Journal: Hepatology Date: 1992-08 Impact factor: 17.425
Authors: Stephanos J Hadziyannis; Hoel Sette; Timothy R Morgan; Vijayan Balan; Moises Diago; Patrick Marcellin; Giuliano Ramadori; Henry Bodenheimer; David Bernstein; Mario Rizzetto; Stefan Zeuzem; Paul J Pockros; Amy Lin; Andrew M Ackrill Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 2004-03-02 Impact factor: 25.391
Authors: Stefan Zeuzem; Rolf Hultcrantz; Marc Bourliere; Tobias Goeser; Patrick Marcellin; Jose Sanchez-Tapias; Christoph Sarrazin; Joann Harvey; Clifford Brass; Janice Albrecht Journal: J Hepatol Date: 2004-06 Impact factor: 25.083