Original Contribution
The American Journal of Gastroenterology (2008) 103, 1131–1135; doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2008.01793.x
Higher Rate of Sustained Virologic Response in Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 6 Treated With 48 Weeks Versus 24 Weeks of Peginterferon Plus Ribavirin
Mindie H Nguyen MD, MAS1, Huy N Trinh MD2,3, Ruel Garcia MD2,3, Gloria Nguyen BA3,4, Khoa D Lam BA3,4 and Emmet B Keeffe MD1
- 1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California
- 2San Jose Gastroenterology, San Jose, California
- 3Pacific Health Foundation, San Jose, California
- 4Stanford University, Stanford, California
Correspondence: Mindie H Nguyen, MD, MAS, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, 750 Welch Road, Suite 210, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1509.
Received 9 August 2007; Accepted 5 December 2007.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 6 is common in patients from parts of China and Southeast Asia. No study to date has examined the treatment response to peginterferon and ribavirin (PEG IFN + RBV) in these patients, or the effects of treatment duration on sustained virologic response (SVR) rates.
METHODS:
We performed a retrospective study of 190 consecutive Asian-American patients who were diagnosed with HCV genotype 6 at a gastroenterology clinic in northern California between 2001 and 2004, 66 of whom were treatment-naïve and subsequently completed 24 wk of IFN + RBV or PEG IFN + RBV or 48 wk of PEG IFN + RBV therapy. The primary outcome was SVR.
RESULTS:
There was no statistical difference in SVR of 31 patients treated with 24 wk of IFN + RBV and in 23 patients treated with 24 wk of PEG IFN + RBV (51.6% vs 39%, P = 0.363). The SVR in 12 patients treated with 48 wk of PEG IFN + RBV was significantly higher than that in those treated for only 24 wk (75% vs 39%, P = 0.044).
CONCLUSIONS:
Treatment-eligible patients with HCV genotype 6 should be treated with a full course of 48 wk as tolerated. Larger prospective studies of patients with HCV genotype 6 are needed to confirm the optimal treatment duration with PEG IFN + RBV.
