Peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin therapy in Kuwaiti patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

ABSTRACT

Few studies have been conducted in the Eastern Mediterranean region on chronic hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection with reference to genotypes. We investigated the response to standard combination therapy [pegylated interferon/ribavirin] of different genotypes of HCV in Kuwaiti patients and factors that could be associated with sustained virological response [SVR]. The records of all Kuwaiti patients treated for chronic HCV between January 2003 and May 2009 were retrospectively identified and reviewed. Of 108 patients studied, 27.8% were infected with genotype 1, 25.0% with genotype 3 and 47.2% with genotype 4. Overall, 64.8% of patients achieved SVR, 25.9%, were non-responders and 9.3% were relapsers. Baseline viral load and alanine aminotransferase level in addition to early virological response to pegylated interferon-based therapy may serve as a decision tool for clinicians to identify patients who are unlikely to achieve SVR