A randomised study of peginterferon and ribavirin for 16 vs 24 weeks in patients

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: Gut. 2006 Sep 6; [Epub ahead of print]

A randomised study of peginterferon and ribavirin for 16 vs 24 weeks in

patients with genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C.

Yu ML, Dai CY, Huang JF, Hou NJ, Lee LP, Hsieh MY, Chiu CF, Lin ZY, Chen SC,

Hsieh MY, Wang LY, Chang WY, Chuang WL.

Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: The recommended treatment for patients infected with hepatitis C

virus genotype 2 (HCV-2) is peginterferon plus ribavirin for 24 weeks. AIM:

We assessed whether a shorter 16-week treatment is as effective as a

standard 24-week treatment. METHODS: Patients with HCV-2 infection were

randomized in a 1:2 ratio to either 16 weeks (n=50) or 24 weeks (n=100) of

treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a (180 microg/wk) and ribavirin 1000-1200

mg/d with a 24-week follow-up period. Rapid virologic response (RVR) was

defined as seronegative for HCV RNA at 4 weeks of therapy, and the primary

end point, sustained virologic response (SVR), as seronegative for HCV RNA

at 24-week follow-up. RESULTS: The rate of RVR and SVR was 86% (43/50, 95%

confidence interval [CI] 76%-96%) and 94% (47/50, CI 87%-100%),

respectively, in the 16-week group, which was comparable to 87% (87/100, CI

80%-94%) and 95% (95/100, CI: 91%-99%) in the 24-week group. Patients with

an RVR had a significantly higher SVR rate than patients without an RVR in

both 16-week (100% vs. 57%, p=0.015) and 24- week groups (98% vs. 77%,

p=0.002). Multivariate analysis showed that RVR and age were independent

factors associated with SVR. Both treatment arms were equally well

tolerated. The incidence of alopecia was significantly higher in the 24-week

group (49%) than in the 16-week group (20%, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: 16-week

and 24-week of peginterferon with ribavirin at a dose of 1000-1200 mg/d

provided equal efficacy in HCV-2 patients who achieved a RVR at 4 weeks.

PMID: 16956917 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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[Guest guest]

: Gut. 2006 Sep 6; [Epub ahead of print]

A randomised study of peginterferon and ribavirin for 16 vs 24 weeks in

patients with genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C.

Yu ML, Dai CY, Huang JF, Hou NJ, Lee LP, Hsieh MY, Chiu CF, Lin ZY, Chen SC,

Hsieh MY, Wang LY, Chang WY, Chuang WL.

Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: The recommended treatment for patients infected with hepatitis C

virus genotype 2 (HCV-2) is peginterferon plus ribavirin for 24 weeks. AIM:

We assessed whether a shorter 16-week treatment is as effective as a

standard 24-week treatment. METHODS: Patients with HCV-2 infection were

randomized in a 1:2 ratio to either 16 weeks (n=50) or 24 weeks (n=100) of

treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a (180 microg/wk) and ribavirin 1000-1200

mg/d with a 24-week follow-up period. Rapid virologic response (RVR) was

defined as seronegative for HCV RNA at 4 weeks of therapy, and the primary

end point, sustained virologic response (SVR), as seronegative for HCV RNA

at 24-week follow-up. RESULTS: The rate of RVR and SVR was 86% (43/50, 95%

confidence interval [CI] 76%-96%) and 94% (47/50, CI 87%-100%),

respectively, in the 16-week group, which was comparable to 87% (87/100, CI

80%-94%) and 95% (95/100, CI: 91%-99%) in the 24-week group. Patients with

an RVR had a significantly higher SVR rate than patients without an RVR in

both 16-week (100% vs. 57%, p=0.015) and 24- week groups (98% vs. 77%,

p=0.002). Multivariate analysis showed that RVR and age were independent

factors associated with SVR. Both treatment arms were equally well

tolerated. The incidence of alopecia was significantly higher in the 24-week

group (49%) than in the 16-week group (20%, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: 16-week

and 24-week of peginterferon with ribavirin at a dose of 1000-1200 mg/d

provided equal efficacy in HCV-2 patients who achieved a RVR at 4 weeks.

PMID: 16956917 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

_________________________________________________________________

Search—Your way, your world, right now!

http://imagine-windowslive.com/minisites/searchlaunch/?locale=en-us & FORM=WLMTAG