ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Sustained virological response rates of up to 52% have been obtained with peginterferon alpha2a (40 kDa) plus ribavirin in patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 in randomized-controlled trials. AIM: To assess early virological response and its clinical utility in predicting an sustained virological response in patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 in routine clinical practice in Spain. METHODS: Treatment-naïve patients received pegylated interferon alpha2a (40 kDa) 180 microg/week plus ribavirin 1000/1200 mg/day for 48 weeks, and were followed for a further 24 weeks. Overall, 475 patients received at least one dose of medication and were included in the efficacy population. RESULTS: The overall sustained virological response rate was 48%. Of those with week 12 virological data, 83% had an early virological response. The negative predictive value of an early virological response was 93%. CONCLUSION: If sustained virological response is the goal, a treatment-decision based on a 12-week evaluation during routine clinical practice is feasible.
Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Hepatitis C, Chronic/drug therapy , Interferon-alpha/therapeutic use , Polyethylene Glycols/therapeutic use , Ribavirin/therapeutic use , Adult , Antiviral Agents/pharmacokinetics , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Hepatitis C, Chronic/virology , Humans , Interferon alpha-2 , Interferon-alpha/pharmacokinetics , Male , Middle Aged , Polyethylene Glycols/pharmacokinetics , Recombinant Proteins , Ribavirin/pharmacokinetics , Treatment OutcomeSubject(s)
Leukemia, Neutrophilic, Chronic/diagnosis , Aged , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , HumansABSTRACT
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