Impact of ribavirin dose on retreatment of chronic hepatitis C patients.

Abstract

AIM:

To study the efficacy and factors associated with a sustained virological response (SVR) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) relapsing patients.

METHODS:

Out of 1228 CHC patients treated with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV), 165 (13%) had a relapse. Among these, 62 patients were retreated with PEG-IFN-α2a or -α2b and RBV. Clinical, biological, virological and histological data were collected. Initial doses and treatment modifications were recorded. The efficacy of retreatment and predictive factors for SVR were analyzed.

RESULTS:

An SVR was achieved in 42% of patients. SVR was higher in young (< 50 years) (61%) than old patients (27%) (P = 0.007), and in genotype 2 or 3 (57%) than in genotype 1 or 4 (28%) patients (P = 0.023). Prolonging therapy for at least 24 wk more than the previous course was associated with higher SVR rates (53% vs 28%, P = 0.04). Also, a better SVR rate was observed with RBV dose/body weight > 15.2 mg/kg per day (70% vs 35%, P = 0.04). In logistic regression, predictors of a response were age (P = 0.018), genotype (P = 0.048) and initial RBV dose/body weight (P = 0.022). None of the patients without a complete early virological response achieved an SVR (negative predictive value = 100%).

CONCLUSION:

Retreatment with PEG-IFN/RBV is eff-ective in genotype 2 or 3 relapsers, especially in young patients. A high dose of RBV seems to be important for the retreatment response.

• Authors: Christiane Stern, Michelle Martinot-Peignoux, Marie Pierre Ripault, Nathalie Boyer, Corinne Castelnau, Dominique Valla, Patrick Marcellin
• Journal: World journal of gastroenterology (World J Gastroenterol) Vol. 18 Issue 23 Pg. 2966-72 (Jun 21 2012) ISSN: 2219-2840 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22736920 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha
• Recombinant Proteins
• Polyethylene Glycols
• Ribavirin
• peginterferon alfa-2b
• peginterferon alfa-2a

Topics

• Adult
• Age Factors
• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Genotype
• Hepacivirus (drug effects, genetics)
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Interferon alpha-2
• Interferon-alpha (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Polyethylene Glycols (therapeutic use)
• Recombinant Proteins (therapeutic use)
• Recurrence
• Ribavirin (administration & dosage)
• Viral Load