Introduction. Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can progress to liver
cirrhosis that causes bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, liver failure
and primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Use of standard therapeutic option
consists of recombinant pegylated interferon alpha 2a/b with ribavirin in
order to eradicate virus and prevent complications. Objective. The aim of
investigation was to evaluate efficiency of combination therapy (pegylated
interferon alpha 2a/b plus ribavirin) in patients with chronic HCV infection
and to estimate predictive factors for successful treatment. Methods. A total
of 387 patients with confirmed diagnosis of hepatitis C were evaluated (aged
18-65 years of both genders). Patients were treated with pegylated
interferon alpha 2a/b and ribavirin according to a standard regimen lasting
24 or 48 weeks, dependent on virus genotype. Results. Negative HCV RNA (PCR
assay) was recorded in 79.7% of patients at the end of treatment. Six months
after completed therapy, negative HCV RNA, i.e. stained virologic response
(SVR) was assessed in 70.5% of patients. Statistical summary of our results
concerning SVR confirmed better efficiency of combination therapy for the
following parameters compared to other investigated variables: age ?40 (84.3%
vs. 59.l%; p<0.0005), absence of cirrhosis (75.6% vs. 58.3%; p=0.003), lack
of genotype 1 (86.6% vs. 61.8%; p<0.0005), and in patients who received full
doses of pegylated interferon alpha 2a (78.3% vs. 63.3%; p=0.002).
Conclusion. Combination therapy of recombinant pegylated interferon alpha 2a
with ribavirin leads to SVR in the majority of treated patients (70.5%).
Successful treatment depends on a variety of host and virus factors.
Efficacy of 24-Week Pegylated Interferon Alpha and Ribavirin Combination Therapy in Highly Selected Patients Infected With Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1
