24-Week vs 48-Week Treatment with Pegasys Plus Ribavirin in HCV Genotype 1 Patie

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24-Week vs 48-Week Treatment with Pegasys Plus Ribavirin in HCV

Genotype 1 Patients

Pegylated interferon alfa plus ribavirin is the most effective

therapy for chronic hepatitis C, but questions remain as to the

optimal duration of therapy.

Brazilian researchers conducted a study to evaluate the effect of

pegylated interferon alfa-2a (Pegasys) plus ribavirin on sustained

virological response (SVR) when administered for 24 or 48 weeks to

treatment-naïve patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV).

The study enrolled 117 participants being treated for hepatitis C for

the first time. Genotype 1 patients were randomly assigned to receive

treatment for 24 or 48 weeks; those with non-1 genotypes received

treatment for 24 weeks. The researchers evaluated SVR (undetectable

HCV RNA 24 weeks after the end of therapy) and treatment tolerability.

Results

The end-of-treatment response rates were:

59% for genotype 1 patients treated for 24 weeks;

80% for genotype 1 patients treated for 48 weeks;

92% for genotype non-1 patients treated for 24 weeks.

The SVR rates were:

19% for genotype 1 patients treated for 24 weeks (95% CI 7.2-36.4);

48% for genotype 1 patients treated for 48 weeks (95% CI 30.2-66.9; P

= 0.0175).

76% for genotype non-1 patients (95% CI 62.3-86.5).

Safety profiles were acceptable, and there were no unexpected adverse

side effects.

Conclusion

The authors concluded that almost half of genotype 1 patients

achieved SVR after treatment for 48 weeks with Pegasys plus low-dose

ribavirin (although the dose used was not specified in the abstract),

confirming that 48-week treatment was superior to 24 weeks for this

population.

Reference

C Brandão, A Barone, F Carrilho, and others.The results of a

randomized trial looking at 24 weeks vs 48 weeks of treatment with

peginterferon & #945;-2a (40 kDa) and ribavirin combination therapy in

patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1. Journal of Viral

Hepatitis 13(8): 552-559. August 2006.