Weight affect relapse rates in latinos with genotype 2/3 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treated with peg IFN alfa-2a (Pegasys) 180 mcg/week and 800 mg daily of ribavirin for 24 weeks

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J Med Virol. 2008 Jul 22;80(9):1576-1580. [Epub ahead of print]

Weight affect relapse rates in latinos with genotype 2/3 chronic hepatitis C

(CHC) treated with peg IFN alfa-2a (Pegasys) 180 mcg/week and 800 mg daily of

ribavirin for 24 weeks.

Rodríguez- M, Ríos-Bedoya CF, Ortiz-Lasanta G, Purcell-Arevalo D,

Marxuach-Cuétara A, Jiménez- J.

Fundación de Investigación de Diego, Santurce, Puerto Rico.

Efficacy of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treatment with Peg-IFN and Ribavirin (RBV)

is superior for genotypes 2/3 (GT-2/3) than for genotype 1 (GT-1) patients.

Efficacy of treatment in Latinos infected with GT-2/3 is unknown. The purpose of

the study was to examine efficacy of Peg-IFN/RBV in Latinos and factors that

predict sustained viral response (SVR). This was a retrospective study of GT-2/3

patients treated with Peg-IFN alfa-2a and RBV for 24 weeks. Multiple baseline

characteristics were evaluated. SVR and relapse rates were calculated, as well

as multiple regression models performed to examine factors that predict SVR and

relapse, as genotype, HVL, weight, steatosis at liver biopsy, total cholesterol

triglyceride and diabetes. Thirty five consecutive patients were included in the

study; [26] GT-2 and [9] GT-3. Baseline characteristics were similar between

both genotypes. SVR was (18/26) or 69.2% for GT-2 and (8/9) or 88.9% for GT-3

for combined SVR of (26/35), 74.3%. Relapse rates were 28.0% for GT-2 and 11.1%

for GT-3 patients for a combined relapse rate of 23.5%. Patients heavier than 75

kg had relapse rates twofold higher than leaner patients, (6/21) or 28.6% versus

(2/14) or 14.3% (P = 0.088). Weight increase in kg was the only predictor for

risk of relapse, P = 0.043 (SD 0.0445 95% CI 1.0026-1.1772). In conclusion,

Latinos heavier than 75 kg with GT-2/3 HCV infection achieve lower SVR than

those who weight less than 75 kg, because a higher relapse rate. More research

in ethnic and racial minorities is needed to further establish optimal treatment

in this population. J. Med. Virol. 80:1576-1580, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 18649339 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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