Inferior response of Asian vs non-Asian hepatitis C genotype 3 infection to combination antiviral th

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J Viral Hepat. 2008 Feb;15(2):115-9.

Inferior response of Asian vs non-Asian hepatitis C genotype 3 infection to

combination antiviral therapy.

Freshwater DA, O'Donnell K, Mutimer DJ.

The Liver and Hepatobiliary Unit, Queen Hospital, Birmingham, UK.

Racial differences in response to treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been

noted in several trials. In this study, we compared the response rate to

treatment of Asian patients infected by genotype 3 HCV with non-Asians treated

for the same genotype. Sixteen of 38 (42.1%) Asians achieved a sustained

virological response (SVR), compared with 41 of 66 (62.1%) Caucasians (P =

0.063). At baseline prior to treatment, Asians had a higher histological

fibrosis stage (P = 0.0014), indicating more advanced disease at presentation.

In univariable analysis of baseline factors predicting failure to achieve an

SVR, Asian ethnicity, fibrosis stage, higher serum aspartate transaminase,

bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase, as well as lower white cell count,

haemoglobin and platelet count were statistically significant. None of these

factors achieved significance in multivariate analysis, possibly because of the

relatively small number of patients studied. We have observed an inferior

response to treatment of Asian vs Caucasian patients. The poor response probably

reflects the more advanced liver disease at baseline observed for Asian British

patients.

PMID: 18184194 [PubMed - in process]

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