Introduction. Dual antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon alfa-2a and
ribavirin leads do sustained elimination of hepatitis C virus infection in
over 50% patients with genotypes 1 and 4 and in over 80% with genotypes 2 and
3. In addition to genotype, for predicting success of therapy, important
factors are baseline HCV RNA level, age, sex, stage of fibrosis, insulin
resistance, degree of fat in liver, and patient?s weight and genetics. Also,
adherence to therapy could be a very important factor associated with success
of therapy. Objective. The aim of this study was to assess importance of
therapy adherence and reduced doses of pegylated interferon alfa-2a and
ribavirin on sustained virological response. Methods. One hundred and sixteen
patients with chronic hepatitis C were analyzed. Sustained virological
response was analyzed in relation to whether the patients received a full
cumulative dose of pegylated interferon alfa-2a, a full cumulative dose of
pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin, and a full cumulative dose of
pegylated interferon alfa-2a and at least 60% the expected cumulative dose of
ribavirin. Results. At the end of the follow-up period, sustained virological
response was achieved in 26 (96.3%) patients who received full cumulative
dose of pegylated interferon alfa-2a and in 66 (74.2%) who did not (p<0.05).
Sustained virological response was achieved in 18 (94.7%) patients who
received full cumulative dose of pegylated inteferon alfa-2a and ribavirin,
and in 73 (76%) who did not (p<0.05). Sustained virological response was
achieved in 25 (96.2%) patients who received full cumulative dose of
pegylated inteferon alfa-2a and at least 60% of cumulative dose of ribavirin
and in 66 (74.2%) who did not (p<0.05). Conclusion. These findings indicate
that adherence to therapy for chronic hepatitis C is a very important factor
for achieving sustained virological response.
Sustained virological response based on rapid virological response in genotype-3 chronic hepatitis C treated with standard interferon in the Pakistani population