1. Sustained virological response in a predominantly hepatitis C virus genotype 4 infected population.
- Author
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Dahlan Y, Ather HM, Al-ahmadi M, Batwa F, and Al-hamoudi W
- Subjects
- Adult, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Drug Administration Schedule, Drug Therapy, Combination, Female, Genotype, Hepacivirus isolation & purification, Hepatitis C epidemiology, Hepatitis C virology, Humans, Interferon alpha-2, Male, Middle Aged, RNA, Viral blood, Recombinant Proteins, Retrospective Studies, Treatment Outcome, Antiviral Agents administration & dosage, Hepacivirus genetics, Hepatitis C drug therapy, Interferon-alpha administration & dosage, Polyethylene Glycols administration & dosage, Ribavirin administration & dosage
- Abstract
Aim: To assess sustained virological response (SVR) rates in a predominantly hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 infected population., Methods: Between 2003-2007, 240 patients who were treated for chronic hepatitis C infection at our center were included. Epidemiological data, viral genotypes, and treatment outcomes were evaluated in all treated patients. Patients with chronic renal failure, previous non-responders, and those who relapsed after previous treatment were excluded from the study. Among all patients, 57% were treated with PEG-interferon (IFN) alpha-2a and 43% patients were treated with PEG-IFN alpha-2b; both groups received a standard dose of ribavirin., Results: 89.6% of patients completed the treatment with an overall SVR rate of 58%. The SVR rate was 54% in genotype 1, 44% in genotype 2, 73% in genotype 3, and 59% in genotype 4 patients. There was no statistical difference in the SVR rate between patients treated with PEG-IFN alpha-2a and PEG-IFN alpha-2b (61.5% vs 53%). Patients younger than 40 years had higher SVR rates than older patients (75% vs 51%, P = 0.001). SVR was also statistically significantly higher when the HCV RNA load (pretreatment) was below 800.000 (64% vs 50%, P = 0.023), in patients with a body mass index (BMI) less than 28 (65% vs 49%, P = 0.01), and in patients who completed the treatment duration (64% vs 8%, P
- Published
- 2009
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