Efficacy of Pegylated Interferon Alpha-2a and Ribavirin Treatment in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Depends on Various Baseline Parameters and Early Viral Kinetics

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to compare efficacy and viral kinetics during antiviral treatment in different chronic hepatitis C patients--naive, relapsers and non-responders to previous pegylated interferon alpha (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin treatment, with different genotypes, baseline viremia, body weight, age and gender--and to find some baseline parameters which can predict Sustained Virological Response (SVR; negative serum HCV RNA 24 weeks after treatment). MATERIAL AND METHODS 216 chronic hepatitis C patients were treated with PEG-IFN alpha-2a 180 mg/wk and ribavirin 1 000 or 1 200 mg/day. There were 140 men and 76 women, mean age 40, range 19-70 years; 142 (66 %) naive, 37 (17 %) relapsers after previous PEG-IFN and ribavirin treatment, and 37 (17 %) non-responders to this treatment. 172 (79,6%) has genotype 1 infection, 4 (1,9 %) genotype 2, 34 (15,6 %) genotype 3, 1 (0,5 %) genotype 4 or 6 infection, and 4 (1,9 %) were infected by unknown viral genotype. Quantitative detection of HCV RNA was done at baseline (216 pts.), 24 hours (83 pts.), 14 days (85 pts.), 28 days (88 pts.), and 84 days (211 pts.) after the first dose of PEG-IFN. RESULTS 195 patients have completed the treatment period and 179 patients the 24-week follow-up period. The probability of SVR was significantly higher (P 0,001), and had lower baseline viremia (mean 1,014 3 106 IU/mL vs. 2,415 3 106 IU/mL, P > 0,001). SVR was more frequent in women than in men (43/63, 62,8 % vs. 62/116, 53,4 %) but difference was not significant (P = 0,059). Undetectable serum HCV RNA at week 12 was more predictive of SVR than early viral response (minimum 2 log decrease of serum HCV RNA during the first 12 weeks of treatment)--98/122 (80,3 %) versus 104/141 (73,1 %) of SVR. CONCLUSIONS 1) The monitoring of viral kinetics during first 12 weeks of antiviral therapy in hepatitis C patients was an important predictive value for SVR. 2) Negative serum HCV RNA at week 12 was more predictive of SVR than early viral response. 3) The probability of SVR was significantly higher in patients with lower baseline viremia, body weight and younger adults. 4) Gender was not significant for the efficacy of treatment.