Current antiviral combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients who failed to interferon alfa-based treatment

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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2710.2010.01231.x/abstract

Current antiviral combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients who

failed to interferon alfa-based treatment

M. Trapero-Marugán MD1, J. Mendoza MD1, J. A. Moreno Monteagudo MD1, M.

Chaparro MD1, L. García-Buey MD1, L. González-Moreno MD2, M. J.

Borque BSc3, R. Moreno-Otero MD1Article first published online: 22 DEC 2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2710.2010.01231.x

© 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Issue

Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics

Early View (Articles online in advance of print)

Summary

What is known and Objective:  Interferon-alfa-based therapy is effective in

the treatment of Hepatitis C. However, some patients fail to respond and others

relapse, after initially responding. Our objective was to assess the efficacy,

safety and predictive factors for sustained virological response (SVR) to

peginterferon plus ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C patients who failed to

interferon-alfa (IFNα)-based therapy.

Methods:  Seventy-five consecutive patients who failed to IFNα-based therapy

were retreated with peginterferon plus ribavirin. Of these patients, 85% were

infected by genotype 1. The primary endpoint was SVR.

Results and Discussion:  Of 75 non-responder (n = 54) or relapser patients (n

= 21), 50 were previously treated with IFNα-monotherapy and 25 with IFNα plus

ribavirin. Global SVR rate was 41·3%: for patients re-treated with IFNα the

response was 48% whilst for those retreated with IFNα plus ribavirin, it was

28%. For previous non-responders the SVR rate was 37% and for relapsers it was

52·4%.

What is new and Conclusion:  Retreatment with peginterferon plus ribavirin is

an effective option for some chronic hepatitis C non-responder or relapser

patients. Higher SVR rate was achieved in relapsers and in those patients who

received IFNα monotherapy previously.