Combination therapy for the treatment of hepatitis C in the veteran population: higher than expected rates of therapy discontinuation

[Guest guest]

Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Edited by: R.E. Pounder and W.L.

Print ISSN: 0269-2813

Online ISSN: 1365-2036

Frequency: Fortnightly

Current Volume: 19

ISI Journal Citation Reports® Ranking: 2003: 8/47 (Gastroenterology &

Hepatology); 32/184 (Pharmacology & Pharmacy)

Impact Factor: 3.529

Volume 20: Issue 6

Combination therapy for the treatment of hepatitis C in the veteran

population: higher than expected rates of therapy discontinuation

Y. Getachew

J. D. Browning

M. Prebis

T.

G. R. Brown

Abstract

Aim

To compare the efficacy of high-dose induction with standard dose interferon

therapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus at the Dallas

Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Methods

Patients were randomized to receive 5 million units daily interferon-a2b for

4-weeks followed by 44-weeks for genotype 1 or 20 weeks for non-genotype 1

of standard dose therapy (3 million units three times a week) or standard

dose therapy for total treatment duration. Daily weight-based ribavirin was

used for entire therapy interval.

Results

Forty-five patients were enrolled in the trial with genotype 1 comprising

75.6% of the sample. Cirrhosis or bridging-fibrosis was present in 69% of

the patients. Of the 29 liver biopsies available for Knodell scoring, 41%

and 51% had scores of 6–10 and 11–15, respectively. Rates of sustained

virological response did not differ significantly between the two treatment

groups. Therapy type and/or early intervention for depression did not affect

the rate of therapy discontinuation, which was 26.6%.

Conclusion

The rate of sustained virological response was similar between the two

treatment groups and higher than anticipated among patients with cirrhosis

or bridging-fibrosis. The rate of therapy discontinuation was also higher

than anticipated but was not attributable to therapy type or untreated

depression.

Article Type: Original Article

Page range: 629 - 636

[Guest guest]

Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Edited by: R.E. Pounder and W.L.

Print ISSN: 0269-2813

Online ISSN: 1365-2036

Frequency: Fortnightly

Current Volume: 19

ISI Journal Citation Reports® Ranking: 2003: 8/47 (Gastroenterology &

Hepatology); 32/184 (Pharmacology & Pharmacy)

Impact Factor: 3.529

Volume 20: Issue 6

Combination therapy for the treatment of hepatitis C in the veteran

population: higher than expected rates of therapy discontinuation

Y. Getachew

J. D. Browning

M. Prebis

T.

G. R. Brown

Abstract

Aim

To compare the efficacy of high-dose induction with standard dose interferon

therapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus at the Dallas

Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Methods

Patients were randomized to receive 5 million units daily interferon-a2b for

4-weeks followed by 44-weeks for genotype 1 or 20 weeks for non-genotype 1

of standard dose therapy (3 million units three times a week) or standard

dose therapy for total treatment duration. Daily weight-based ribavirin was

used for entire therapy interval.

Results

Forty-five patients were enrolled in the trial with genotype 1 comprising

75.6% of the sample. Cirrhosis or bridging-fibrosis was present in 69% of

the patients. Of the 29 liver biopsies available for Knodell scoring, 41%

and 51% had scores of 6–10 and 11–15, respectively. Rates of sustained

virological response did not differ significantly between the two treatment

groups. Therapy type and/or early intervention for depression did not affect

the rate of therapy discontinuation, which was 26.6%.

Conclusion

The rate of sustained virological response was similar between the two

treatment groups and higher than anticipated among patients with cirrhosis

or bridging-fibrosis. The rate of therapy discontinuation was also higher

than anticipated but was not attributable to therapy type or untreated

depression.

Article Type: Original Article

Page range: 629 - 636

[Guest guest]

Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Edited by: R.E. Pounder and W.L.

Print ISSN: 0269-2813

Online ISSN: 1365-2036

Frequency: Fortnightly

Current Volume: 19

ISI Journal Citation Reports® Ranking: 2003: 8/47 (Gastroenterology &

Hepatology); 32/184 (Pharmacology & Pharmacy)

Impact Factor: 3.529

Volume 20: Issue 6

Combination therapy for the treatment of hepatitis C in the veteran

population: higher than expected rates of therapy discontinuation

Y. Getachew

J. D. Browning

M. Prebis

T.

G. R. Brown

Abstract

Aim

To compare the efficacy of high-dose induction with standard dose interferon

therapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus at the Dallas

Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Methods

Patients were randomized to receive 5 million units daily interferon-a2b for

4-weeks followed by 44-weeks for genotype 1 or 20 weeks for non-genotype 1

of standard dose therapy (3 million units three times a week) or standard

dose therapy for total treatment duration. Daily weight-based ribavirin was

used for entire therapy interval.

Results

Forty-five patients were enrolled in the trial with genotype 1 comprising

75.6% of the sample. Cirrhosis or bridging-fibrosis was present in 69% of

the patients. Of the 29 liver biopsies available for Knodell scoring, 41%

and 51% had scores of 6–10 and 11–15, respectively. Rates of sustained

virological response did not differ significantly between the two treatment

groups. Therapy type and/or early intervention for depression did not affect

the rate of therapy discontinuation, which was 26.6%.

Conclusion

The rate of sustained virological response was similar between the two

treatment groups and higher than anticipated among patients with cirrhosis

or bridging-fibrosis. The rate of therapy discontinuation was also higher

than anticipated but was not attributable to therapy type or untreated

depression.

Article Type: Original Article

Page range: 629 - 636

[Guest guest]

Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Edited by: R.E. Pounder and W.L.

Print ISSN: 0269-2813

Online ISSN: 1365-2036

Frequency: Fortnightly

Current Volume: 19

ISI Journal Citation Reports® Ranking: 2003: 8/47 (Gastroenterology &

Hepatology); 32/184 (Pharmacology & Pharmacy)

Impact Factor: 3.529

Volume 20: Issue 6

Combination therapy for the treatment of hepatitis C in the veteran

population: higher than expected rates of therapy discontinuation

Y. Getachew

J. D. Browning

M. Prebis

T.

G. R. Brown

Abstract

Aim

To compare the efficacy of high-dose induction with standard dose interferon

therapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus at the Dallas

Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Methods

Patients were randomized to receive 5 million units daily interferon-a2b for

4-weeks followed by 44-weeks for genotype 1 or 20 weeks for non-genotype 1

of standard dose therapy (3 million units three times a week) or standard

dose therapy for total treatment duration. Daily weight-based ribavirin was

used for entire therapy interval.

Results

Forty-five patients were enrolled in the trial with genotype 1 comprising

75.6% of the sample. Cirrhosis or bridging-fibrosis was present in 69% of

the patients. Of the 29 liver biopsies available for Knodell scoring, 41%

and 51% had scores of 6–10 and 11–15, respectively. Rates of sustained

virological response did not differ significantly between the two treatment

groups. Therapy type and/or early intervention for depression did not affect

the rate of therapy discontinuation, which was 26.6%.

Conclusion

The rate of sustained virological response was similar between the two

treatment groups and higher than anticipated among patients with cirrhosis

or bridging-fibrosis. The rate of therapy discontinuation was also higher

than anticipated but was not attributable to therapy type or untreated

depression.

Article Type: Original Article

Page range: 629 - 636