Aziz H, Raza A, Waheed Y, Gill U, Gill ML. Analysis of variables and interactions among variables associated with a sustained virological response to pegylated interferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin in hepatitis C virus genotype 3-infected patients.
Int J Infect Dis 2012;
16:e597-602. [PMID:
22658873 DOI:
10.1016/j.ijid.2012.03.012]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2012] [Revised: 03/17/2012] [Accepted: 03/23/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The recommended standard therapeutic regimen for chronic hepatitis patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3 is pegylated interferon plus ribavirin for 24 weeks. The aim of the present study was to evaluate treatment efficacy and variables predictive of treatment success, interactions among variables contributing to a response to therapy, and the utility of the rapid virological response (RVR; week 4 virological response) to predict treatment outcomes in HCV genotype 3-infected patients in routine clinical practice.
METHODS
We prospectively studied baseline and during-treatment factors associated with a sustained virological response (SVR) in HCV genotype 3-infected patients who received pegylated interferon alfa-2a (PEG-IFN α2a) 180 μg/week plus ribavirin 800 mg daily for 24 weeks and who were followed for 24 weeks after the completion of treatment.
RESULTS
Four hundred and twenty-six treated patients were included in the analysis; 320 (75.1%) showed an SVR. The following factors were assessed for their ability to predict SVR by means of univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis: patient age, sex, pre-treatment viral load, pre-treatment alanine aminotransferase (ALT), body mass index (BMI), and RVR. Four factors - age, pre-treatment viral load, pre-treatment ALT, and RVR - were statistically significant predictors of SVR (p<0.05) in the univariable analysis. Factors showing a significant association with SVR were assessed by multivariable logistic regression analysis. In the multivariable analysis, independent factors associated with SVR were the attainment of RVR (odds ratio (OR) 11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.15-20.69; p<0.0001), patient age ≤40 years (OR 4.2, 95% CI 2.30-7.96, p<0.0001), and a low pre-treatment viral load (≤8 × 10(5) IU/ml; OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.87-6.25; p<0.0001). The effect of RVR in patients aged >40 years was more pronounced than in those aged ≤40 years: 81.1% of patients aged >40 years who achieved an RVR had an SVR, whereas only 7.5% of patients aged >40 years who did not achieve an RVR had an SVR (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
RVR is an independent variable that is predictive of SVR. Moreover older patients (>40 years) who achieve an RVR are likely to have an SVR, while patients who do not achieve an RVR and who have a high pre-treatment viral load (>8 × 10(5) IU/ml) are unlikely to have an SVR.
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