DI-039 Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of short-term boceprevir and telaprevir in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Background Peginterferon–ribavirin treatment is the current standard of care for chronic infection with hepatitis C virus. Boceprevir and telaprevir have been marketed as an additional treatment. Purpose To analyse the efficacy and safety of triple therapy in the treatment of Hepatitis C. Materials and methods Retrospective study of all patients treated with boceprevir or telaprevir. The variables studied were age, sex, previous response to dual therapy, duration of treatment, HCV RNA level in weeks 4, 12, 24, sustained virological response (SVR) and adverse events. Results A total of 52 patients were treated (41 with telaprevir and 12 with boceprevir), 1 patient received both treatments. The median age was 53 ± 9 years, 67% being men. Prior response to dual therapy was: 23 patients non-responders, 24 patients relapsed and 5 patients treatment-naive. The duration of triple therapy for patients who completed treatment was 24 weeks in 11 patients treated with telaprevir and for the other patients it was 48 weeks. Five patients did not finish treatment with telaprevir, two for lack of response and 3 because of adverse events. Five patients discontinued treatment with boceprevir for lack of response. HCV RNA level patients treated with telaprevir was undetectable in 82%, 87% and 85% at week 4, 12 and 24 respectively. HCV RNA level patients treated boceprevir at week 12 and 24 was undetectable in 58%. SVR could be calculated only in 3 patients treated with telaprevir, to be favourable in 2 cases and relapse in the third. Adverse events were asthenia (38%), anaemia (32%), pruritus (28%), neutropenia (21%), rash (19%), diarrhoea (9.6%), thrombocytopenia (7.7%) and depression (5.7%). Conclusions A higher proportion of patients treated with telaprevir had an undetectable level of HCV RNA, but these results are still preliminary; it is necessary to determine SVR to evaluate treatment efficacy. Adverse effects corresponded to the safety profile described in clinical trials. No conflict of interest.