Treatment Response and Long-Term Outcome of Peginterferon α and Ribavirin Therapy in Korean Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C
Gut and Liver
;
: 808-817, 2016.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-179845
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS:
Peginterferon plus ribavirin remains a standard therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in Korea. We investigated the efficacy and long-term outcome of peginterferon and ribavirin therapy in Korean patients with CHC, particularly in relation to the stage of liver fibrosis.METHODS:
The incidence of sustained virological response (SVR), hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver-related death was analyzed in 304 patients with CHC; the patients were followed up for a median of 54 months.RESULTS:
Among patients with HCV genotype 1, the SVR rate was 36.7% (18/49) and 67% (69/103) for patients with and without cirrhosis, respectively (p<0.001). For patients with non-1 HCV genotypes, the SVR rates were 86.0% (37/43) in cirrhotic patients and 86.2% (94/109) in noncirrhotic patients. SVR significantly reduced the risk of liver-related death, hepatic decompensation, and hepatocellular carcinoma, which had hazard ratios of 0.27, 0.16, and 0.22, respectively (all p<0.05). However, despite the SVR rate, patients with advanced fibrosis were still at risk of developing liver-related complications.CONCLUSIONS:
A relatively high SVR rate was achieved by peginterferon plus ribavirin therapy in Korean patients with CHC, which improved their long-term outcomes. However, all CHC patients with advanced hepatic fibrosis should receive close follow-up observations, even after successful antiviral treatment.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Ribavirin
/
Fibrosis
/
Incidence
/
Follow-Up Studies
/
Hepatitis C
/
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
/
Hepatitis C, Chronic
/
Genotype
/
Hepatitis, Chronic
/
Korea
Type of study:
Incidence study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Gut and Liver
Year:
2016
Type:
Article
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