Dynamic tailoring of treatment durations improves efficiency of hepatitis C treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin
Journal article, 2013

The treatment durations for hepatitis C are guided by the analysis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in blood at certain time points. This multicentre, randomized open label trial evaluated the utility and performance of individualized treatment durations guided by viral decline rates in 103 patients with HCV genotype 1 infection. Pegylated interferon 2a and ribavirin were given as standard of care (SOC) for 24, 48 or 72 weeks or as dynamic treatment (DT) for 24–72 weeks. The DT duration was based on the time point when log HCV RNA would reach 0 log copies/mL, as estimated by the second-phase decline. The rate of sustained virologic response was 63% for SOC and 54% for DT, but this difference was not significant in multiple regression analysis taking predictive factors such as interleukin-28B genotypes, age and baseline viremia into account (P = 0.45). The mean required treatment time per cured patient was 51 weeks for DT as compared with 58 weeks for SOC (P = 0.22) when given per protocol (n = 95) and was significantly shorter (42 vs 51 weeks) among patients who achieved undetectable HCV RNA (P = 0.01). We conclude that DT was feasible and increased efficiency. The estimated time point for 0 log viral copies/mL is a new and quantitative response variable, which may be used as a complement to the qualitative variable rapid virologic response. The outcome parameter treatment weeks per cured patient could become a useful tool for comparing treatment efficiency also in the era of directly acting antivirals.

HCV

virus

ribavirin

early viral kinetics

therapy

therapy

genotype-1

peginterferon

plus ribavirin

kinetics

interferon

infection

Author

Magnus Lindh

University of Gothenburg

B Arnholm

Södra Älvsborg Hospital (SÄS)

P. Bjorkman

Skåne University Hospital

Kristoffer Hellstrand

University of Gothenburg

Martin Lagging

University of Gothenburg

Staffan Nilsson

University of Gothenburg

Chalmers, Mathematical Sciences, Mathematical Statistics

T Wahlberg

Skaraborg Hospital

E. Wallmark

Skåne University Hospital

O. Weiland

Karolinska University Hospital

Rune Wejstål

University of Gothenburg

Johan Westin

University of Gothenburg

A. Widell

Skåne University Hospital

Gunnar Norkrans

University of Gothenburg

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

1352-0504 (ISSN) 1365-2893 (eISSN)

Vol. 20 4 e82-e89

Subject Categories

Infectious Medicine

DOI

10.1111/jvh.12014

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Latest update

1/5/2021 1