01 August 2003
Assessment of selected clinical factors as predictors of response to combined interferon-alpha plus ribavirin therapy among patients with chronic hepatitis C
Wiesław Kryczka, Dorota Zarębska-Michaluk, Magdalena ChrapekMed Sci Monit 2003; 9(3): 32-35 :: ID: 428596
Abstract
Background: Combined interferon-alpha (IFN) plus ribavirin therapy is recommended as first-line regimen treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the selected clinical factors in the prediction of response to IFN with ribavirin for initial therapy and retreatment of CHC. Material/Methods:Ninety eight consecutive CHC patients who completed the combined IFN with ribavirin therapy (24 or 48 weeks), including 79 naive patients (age: 41.0+/-10.9 yrs; 51M; NAIVE group) and 19 nonsustained responders to prior IFN monotherapy (age: 40.8+/-10.2 yrs; 10M; RETHERAPY group). Sustained Response (SR) was defined as persistent normalization of ALT and loss of serum HCV-RNA 6 months after the end of treatment; all other patients were defined as nonresponders (NR). Age, gender, pretreatment histology (assessed according to Ishak`s scoring system) and baseline ALT, g-GTP and iron serum levels were compared in SR and NR patients, separately in NAIVE and RETHERAPY groups. Results: The baseline clinical characteristics of NAIVE and RETHERAPY group did not differ significantly. 28 of 79 (35.4%) NAIVE patients and 9 of 19 (47.4%) RETHERAPY patients achieved SR to the therapy. NAIVE sustained responders presented significantly lower staging scores and g-GTP levels in comparison with nonresponders. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only fibrotic score lower than 3 was independently (p=0.04) associated with SR. In RETHERAPY group, only female gender was positively correlated with SR. The other analyzed parameters did not significantly differ between responders and nonresponders.Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that sustained response to combined therapy in naive CHC patients is associated with absence or minimal hepatic fibrosis prior to the therapy. Among retherapy patients, females are more likely to achieve sustained response, irrespective of fibrosis stage.
Keywords: chronic hepatitis C, treatment, interferon, ribavirin, retherapy
Editorial
01 March 2024 : Editorial
Editorial: First Regulatory Approvals for CRISPR-Cas9 Therapeutic Gene Editing for Sickle Cell Disease and Transfusion-Dependent β-ThalassemiaDOI: 10.12659/MSM.944204
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944204
In Press
18 Mar 2024 : Clinical Research
Sexual Dysfunction in Women After Tibial Fracture: A Retrospective Comparative StudyMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944136
21 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research
Potential Value of HSP90α in Prognosis of Triple-Negative Breast CancerMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943049
22 Feb 2024 : Review article
Differentiation of Native Vertebral Osteomyelitis: A Comprehensive Review of Imaging Techniques and Future ...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943168
23 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research
A Study of 60 Patients with Low Back Pain to Compare Outcomes Following Magnetotherapy, Ultrasound, Laser, ...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943732
Most Viewed Current Articles
16 May 2023 : Clinical Research
Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387
Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387
17 Jan 2024 : Review article
Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron VariantDOI :10.12659/MSM.942799
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799
14 Dec 2022 : Clinical Research
Prevalence and Variability of Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Patients with Elevated Tryptase LevelsDOI :10.12659/MSM.937990
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937990
01 Jan 2022 : Editorial
Editorial: Current Status of Oral Antiviral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Hospitalized Pa...DOI :10.12659/MSM.935952
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e935952