Coffee consumption is associated with response to peginterferon and ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS:

High-level coffee consumption has been associated with reduced progression of pre-existing liver diseases and lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, its relationship with therapy for hepatitis C virus infection has not been evaluated.

METHODS:

Patients (n=885) from the lead-in phase of the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-Term Treatment Against Cirrhosis Trial recorded coffee intake before retreatment with peginterferon α-2a (180 μg/wk) and ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day). We assessed patients for early virologic response (2 log10 reduction in level of hepatitis C virus RNA at week 12; n=466), and undetectable hepatitis C virus RNA at weeks 20 (n=320), 48 (end of treatment, n=284), and 72 (sustained virologic response; n=157).

RESULTS:

Median log10 drop from baseline to week 20 was 2.0 (interquartile range [IQR], 0.6-3.9) among nondrinkers and 4.0 (IQR, 2.1-4.7) among patients that drank 3 or more cups/day of coffee (P trend<.0001). After adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, sex, alcohol, cirrhosis, ratio of aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase, the IL28B polymorphism rs12979860, dose reduction of peginterferon, and other covariates, odds ratios for drinking 3 or more cups/day vs nondrinking were 2.0 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-3.6; P trend=.004) for early virologic response, 2.1 (95% CI: 1.1-3.9; P trend=.005) for week 20 virologic response, 2.4 (95% CI: 1.3-4.6; P trend=.001) for end of treatment, and 1.8 (95% CI: 0.8-3.9; P trend=.034) for sustained virologic response.

CONCLUSIONS:

High-level consumption of coffee (more than 3 cups per day) is an independent predictor of improved virologic response to peginterferon plus ribavirin in patients with hepatitis C.

• Authors: Neal D Freedman, Teresa M Curto, Karen L Lindsay, Elizabeth C Wright, Rashmi Sinha, James E Everhart, HALT-C TRIAL GROUP
• Journal: Gastroenterology (Gastroenterology) Vol. 140 Issue 7 Pg. 1961-9 (Jun 2011) ISSN: 1528-0012 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21376050 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Biomarkers
• Coffee
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha
• RNA, Viral
• Recombinant Proteins
• Polyethylene Glycols
• Ribavirin
• peginterferon alfa-2a

Topics

• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Chi-Square Distribution
• Coffee
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Hepacivirus (genetics)
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha (therapeutic use)
• Liver Cirrhosis (drug therapy, virology)
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Odds Ratio
• Polyethylene Glycols (therapeutic use)
• Propensity Score
• RNA, Viral (blood)
• Recombinant Proteins
• Ribavirin (therapeutic use)
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome
• United States
• Viral Load