A multicenter survey of re‐treatment with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin combination therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C in Japan. Issue 1 (18th January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oze, Tsugiko; Hiramatsu, Naoki; Mita, Eiji; Akuta, Norio; Sakamoto, Naoya; Nagano, Hiroaki; Itoh, Yoshito; Kaneko, Shuichi; Izumi, Namiki; Nomura, Hideyuki; Hayashi, Norio; Takehara, Tetsuo
• Is Part Of: Hepatology research. Volume 43:Issue 1(2013:Jan.)
• Page Start: 35
• Page End: 43
• Publication Date: 2013-01-18
• Subjects: Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Liver Diseases -- Periodicals; Foie -- Maladies -- Périodiques; 616.362
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034X.2012.01056.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1386-6346

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <bold>Aim: </bold> This study aimed to clarify the factors associated the efficacy of re‐treatment with pegylated interferon (PEG IFN) plus ribavirin combination therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C who had failed to respond to previous treatment.</p> <p> <bold>Methods: </bold> One hundred and forty‐three patients who had previously shown relapse (<italic>n</italic> = 79), non‐response (<italic>n</italic> = 34) or intolerance (<italic>n</italic> = 30) to PEG IFN plus ribavirin were re‐treated with PEG IFN plus ribavirin.</p> <p> <bold>Results: </bold> Twenty‐five patients with intolerance to previous treatment completed re‐treatment and the sustained virological response (SVR) rates were 55% and 80% for hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 and 2, respectively. On re‐treatment of the 113 patients who completed the previous treatment, the SVR rates were 48% and 63% for genotype 1 and 2, respectively. Relapse after previous treatment and a low baseline HCV RNA level on re‐treatment were associated with SVR in genotype 1 (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001). Patients with the interleukin‐28B major genotype responded significantly better and earlier to re‐treatment, but the difference in the SVR rate did not reach a significant level between the major and minor genotypes (<italic>P</italic> = 0.09). Extended treatment of 72 weeks raised the SVR rate among the patients who attained complete early virological response but not rapid virological response with re‐treatment (72 weeks, 73%, 16/22, vs 48 weeks, 38%, 5/13, <italic>P</italic> < 0.05).</p> <p> <bold>Conclusion: </bold> Relapse after previous treatment and a low baseline HCV RNA level have predictive values for a favorable response of PEG IFN plus ribavirin re‐treatment for HCV genotype 1 patients. Re‐treatment for 72 weeks may lead to clinical improvement for genotype 1 patients with complete early virological response and without rapid virological response on re‐treatment.</p> </abstract>