Abstract
Introduction: Little is known about the effectiveness of various interferon regimes in patients with chronic hepatitis C in every day clinical practice. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective evaluation and analysis of all therapy results from patients treated with interferon in our general care hospital during the last 12 years. Patients and methods: 108 patients (66 men, 42 women) with bioptically confirmed hepatitis C and HCV-RNA positivity received and completed interferon therapy. Therapy consisted of interferon-α (IFN-α, for 48 weeks; group A, n=22), IFN-α plus ribavirin (for 48 weeks; group B, n=32) or pegylated IFN-α (PEG-IFN-α) plus ribavirin (for 24 weeks for genotypes 2 and 3, and 48 weeks for genotypes 1 and 4; group C, n=54). Virological response (HCV negativity) at end the of treatment as well as after follow-up of 24 weeks were analyzed. Results: In group A (100% genotype 1), virological response at the end of treatment was 36.4%, while in group B (100% genotypes 2 and 3) it was 59.4 and in group C (57.4 genotype 1) 77.8% (p≤ 0.05). In group A (IFN-α), SVR was 10.5%, in group B (IFN-α/R) 45.0, and the overall SVR in group C (PEG-IFN-α/R) was 63.3% (p≤ 0.05). Regarding SVR for genotype 1, PEG-IFN-α/R outmatched monotherapy with IFN-α (10.5% vs. 50.0%; p≤ 0.05), and for genotype 2 and 3, therapy with IFN-α/R (45.0 vs. 77.8 ; p≤ 0.05). Conclusion: For group A (IFN-α) and group C (PEG-IFN-α/R), our therapy results were comparable to the findings of randomized controlled studies, whereas results from group B (IFN-α/R) were significantly lower compared to the virological response rates of these studies. Nevertheless, in patients with chronic hepatitis C, good treatment results may be achieved in every day clinical practice outside randomized controlled studies.
Keywords: Chronic hepatitis C, interferon-α, pegylated interferon-α, ribavirin
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