Factors predicting interferon treatment response in patients with chronic hepatitis c: late viral clearance does not preclude a sustained response
Abstract
Because of the suboptimal efficacy, cost, and adverse effects of interferon in chronic hepatitis C (HCV), predictors have been sought to detect patients with a good treatment response. Also, markers for determining a poor response early in the course of therapy, such as the lack of early viral clearance, have been proposed. Ninety-seven patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled to receive leukocyte alpha-interferon according to a stepped-care management protocol. The final virological treatment response was evaluated in 74 patients after a 6-month post-treatment follow-up. The relationship between pretreatment and during-treatment variables and the long-term response was assessed. Non-1 viral genotype, higher pretreatment ALT levels, and lower gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)/ALT ratios and GGT as well as younger age were significantly associated with a sustained response; a trend was also detected for lower serum ferritin levels. Normalization of ALT by 3 months was also a significant predictor of a long-term response. Of the 27 patients carrying the HCV genotype 3a, seven (26%) were still HCV RNA positive at 6 months. Of these patients, however, five (19%) still achieved a sustained virological response after treatment ...Continue Reading
References
Quantification of the initial decline of serum hepatitis C virus RNA and response to interferon alfa
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