Prospective study on early virologic response to treatment with interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b.

To evaluate the predictive value of early virologic response (EVR) of achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR), an open, prospective trial including 42 patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b was performed with directly observed 24-week treatment with interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin. We assessed the predictive values of EVR at days 3, 7, 14, and weeks 4, 8, and 12 of the SVR. The SVR in an intention-to-treat analysis was 19.0%. Patients who reached SVR presented a significantly faster reduction in plasma viral load. Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis of the factors (gender, age, IFN dosage, ribavirin dosage, HCV RNA, ISDR, and loss of HCV RNA at week 4) revealed that loss of HCV RNA at week 4 was the only independent variable of treatment outcome (P=0.0039). A viral load at treatment day 3 above 100kIU/ml, at day 7 above 50kIU/ml, and at day 14 above 10kIU/ml was 100% predictive for virologic non-response in all except 1 patient. The cutoff levels for HCV RNA at days 3 and 14 of treatment were associated with an algorithm of the failure to detect HCV RNA after 12 weeks of treatment. In conclusions, a very early virologic response assessment could be useful for prediction of later outcome of combination therapy in chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b.     

Pegylated interferon alpha-2b (Peg-IFN α-2b) affects early virologic response dose-dependently in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 during treatment with Peg-IFN α-2b plus ribavirin

Summary.  Chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) genotype 1 patients who achieved early virologic response have a high probability of sustained virologic response (SVR) following pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) plus ribavirin therapy. This study was conducted to evaluate how reducing drug doses affects complete early virologic response (c-EVR) defined as hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA negativity at week 12. Nine hundred eighty-four patients with CH-C genotype 1 were enrolled. Drug doses were evaluated independently on a body weight base from doses actually taken. From multivariate analysis, the mean dose of Peg-IFN α-2b during the first 12 weeks was the independent factor for c-EVR ( P  = 0.02), not ribavirin. The c-EVR rate was 55% in patients receiving ≥1.2 μg/kg/week of Peg-IFN, and declined to 38% at 0.9–1.2 μg/kg/week, and 22% in patients given <0.9 μg/kg/week ( P  < 0.0001). Even with stratified analysis according to ribavirin dose, the dose-dependent effect of Peg-IFN on c-EVR was observed, and similar c-EVR rates were obtained if the dose categories of Peg-IFN were the same. Furthermore, the mean dose of Peg-IFN during the first 12 weeks affected HCV RNA negativity at week 24 ( P  < 0.0001) and SVR ( P  < 0.0001) in a dose-dependent manner. Our results suggest that Peg-IFN was dose-dependently correlated with c-EVR, independently of ribavirin dose. Thus, maintaining the Peg-IFN dose as high as possible during the first 12 weeks can yield HCV RNA negativity and higher c-EVR rates, leading to better SVR rates in patients with CH-C genotype 1.     

Eight‐week regimen of antiviral combination therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin for patients with chronic hepatitis C with hepatitis C virus genotype 2 and a rapid virological response

Background: It remains unclear how we can shorten the treatment duration of antiviral combination therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 infection who achieved a rapid virological response (RVR). Aim: We compared the efficacy of antiviral combination therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin for 8 vs. 24 weeks for the treatment of patients with HCV genotype 2 infection and with RVR. Methods: Sixty‐one patients were enrolled. Serum HCV RNA was not detected at 4 weeks after the start of treatment in 32 patients with an RVR. These 32 patients were randomly assigned to 8‐week (n=15) or 24‐week (n=17) treatment regimens. Patients in the 8‐week group who relapsed underwent a 24‐week retreatment. Results: No significant difference in patient characteristics was observed between the 8‐ and the 24‐week treatment groups. A sustained virological response (SVR) was seen in five of 15 patients (33.3%) in the 8‐week treatment group and 14 of 17 (82.4%) in the 24‐week treatment group; the rate was significantly higher in the 24‐week treatment group (P=0.0140). Nine of 10 relapsed patients in the 8‐week treatment group underwent a 24‐week retreatment, and seven achieved an SVR. Conclusion: An 8‐week regimen of combination antiviral therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin yielded an increase in the relapse rate, indicating the limitation of a reduction of treatment below 12 weeks in patients with genotype 2, after RVR.     

Early virologic response after peginterferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin or peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 and with serum HCV RNA concentrations over 800 000 IU/mL have relatively low rates of virologic response to pegylated interferons. The 2 forms of pegylated interferon have different pharmacokinetic profiles, and pilot studies comparing them have yielded varying results. We compared the virologic response to 12 weeks of treatment with peginterferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin vs peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin in 380 patients who were infected with HCV genotype 1 and had high viral loads. We observed no between-group differences in viral load reduction over time and no differences in the percentage of patients treated with peginterferon alpha-2a or peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin who achieved early virologic response (EVR), defined as >/=2-log reduction in HCV RNA concentration or undetectable HCV RNA at 12 weeks (66%vs 63%). Serum levels of interferon were more frequently below the level of quantitation in patients treated with peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin (58-68%) than in those treated with peginterferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin (1-2%). Patients treated with peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin had higher rates of discontinuation for safety reasons (6%vs 1%). In conclusion, a substantial percentage of patients infected with HCV genotype 1 and high viral load can achieve EVR when treated with peginterferon and ribavirin. The 2 pegylated interferons showed comparable anti-HCV activity during the first 12 weeks of treatment when combined with the same doses of ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day), but discontinuations for safety reasons were higher in the patients treated with peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin.     

Predicting the response to 48‐week combination therapy with peginterferon α‐2b plus ribavirin from the estimated HCV RNA load index after negative serum change in genotype 1b hepatitis C patients

Aim: We estimated viral dynamics after serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA became negative and assessed the relation between the estimated viral load at the end of treatment (EVE) index and the response to the combination therapy with peginterferon α‐2b plus ribavirin. Methods: Patients with chronic HCV, genotype 1b, and a high viral load were treated with this combination therapy for 48 weeks, and serum HCV RNA was measured frequently during the treatment period. In the patients showing an end‐of‐treatment response (ETR), the viral load profile from the start of treatment until serum HCV RNA became negative was expressed by an approximate curve. Then the EVE index was calculated by using the expression obtained from the curve, and differences between the sustained virologic response (SVR) and relapse groups were investigated. Results: The SVR rate increased as the EVE index became lower, and the EVE index was significantly lower in the SVR group than in the relapse group. The SVR rate was higher for those in whom the EVE index was below the cut‐off point. Conclusion: Prediction of SVR and relapse from the EVE index is more useful than prediction from viral dynamics at the time when HCV RNA becomes negative or when HCV RNA shows a decrease of 2‐log or more.     

The effect of adherence to therapy on sustained response in daily or three times a week interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin treatment of naive and nonresponder chronic hepatitis C patients

The aim was to demonstrate adherence to treatment has been suggested to enhance rates of sustained response in patients with hepatitis C. In this study, we evaluated the effect of drug dosage reduction or the duration of the expected therapy in patients treated with interferon (IFN)-alpha2b plus ribavirin. Virologic response rates were re-analysed according to compliance to therapy in (i) 301 naive and (ii) 142 nonresponders to previous IFN therapy treated with either IFN 5 MU TIW for 8 weeks followed by IFN 3 MU TIW for 40 weeks plus ribavirin or IFN 3 MU QD for 16 weeks followed by IFN 3 MU TIW for 24 weeks plus ribavirin. Patients were separated into those who adhered to > or =80% of their intended treatment schedule (dose of both drugs and duration) and those who did not. Compliance to treatment resulted in significantly higher response rates in both groups of patients: 43.93% compared with 6.90% of noncompliant naive patients and 30.77% compared with 10.53% of nonresponder patients. Compliance to treatment was found to have a similar effect when the results were analysed according to HCV genotype. Our findings suggest that compliance to treatment for > or =80% of the intended treatment schedule results in significantly higher sustained response rates in both naive and nonresponder patients. Consequently, every effort should be made to improve patient adherence to therapy.     

Sustained virologic response after therapy with the HCV protease inhibitor narlaprevir in combination with peginterferon and ribavirin is durable through long‐term follow‐up

Achievement of a sustained virologic response (SVR) after peginterferon (PEG‐IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) treatment is considered to be a marker for the cure of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Long‐term follow‐up of patients with SVR after treatment with a direct acting antiviral has not yet been described. We used a randomized placebo‐controlled, double‐blind, two‐period phase 1b trial that was conducted in 40 HCV genotype 1 (treatment‐naïve and treatment‐experienced)‐infected patients. Nineteen patients achieved SVR after treatment with the HCV protease inhibitor narlaprevir followed by PEG‐IFN/RBV. In these patients, HCV‐RNA tests were scheduled at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after end of treatment. Patients were followed for a median of 27 months (range 15–32) after end of treatment with a median number of follow‐up visits of 4 (range 3–8). All patients remained HCV‐RNA negative over time. SVR achieved following narlaprevir and PEG‐IFN/RBV‐therapy was durable up to 32 months after the end of treatment.     

慢性丙型肝炎患者获得快速病毒学应答的预测因素分析

目的探讨联合应用聚乙二醇干扰素(PEG-IFN)和利巴韦林治疗的慢性丙型肝炎(CHC)患者获得快速病毒学应答(RVR)的预测因素。方法采用回顾性队列研究方法,对上海市公共卫生临床中心肝病科2010-2012年收治的127例接受PEGIFN联合利巴韦林治疗的CHC患者进行分析,根据抗病毒治疗4周后是否获得RVR,将研究对象分为RVR组和无快速病毒学应答(NRVR)组,比较两组人口学特征及治疗前的临床特征,分析影响CHC患者获得RVR的可能因素。计数资料采用卡方检验,影响因素的分析采用两个独立样本的非参数检验即Mann-Whitney U检验,独立预测因素采用单因素及多因素Logistic回归分析,预测因素中的连续变量作ROC曲线分析。结果 127例患者中,男86例,女41例,其中明确诊断为肝硬化的11例。127例中100例(78.74%)获得RVR,NRVR患者27例(21.26%)。非参数分析显示,对于患者年龄、感染时间、基线ALT水平、基线HA水平、是否合并高血压病、干扰素种类、感染途径、病毒基因型这些因素,RVR组和NRVR组差异均有统计学意义(P值均0.05)。Logistic回归分析显示,感染时间、是否合并高血压、HCV基因型是能否获得RVR的独立预测因子,非基因1型在RVR的OR值为0.203(95%CI:0.051~0.802,P0.05),感染时间在RVR的OR值为0.925(95%CI:0.868~0.987,P0.05),不合并高血压在RVR的OR值为0.129(95%CI:0.032~0.521,P0.05)。结论感染时间较短、不合并高血压病、非基因1型的患者可能更易获得RVR。     

Epidemiological characteristics and response to peginterferon plus ribavirin treatment of hepatitis C virus genotype 4 infection

Hepatitis C virus genotype 4 (HCV-4) infection is progressing in Europe, where epidemiology and sustained virological response (SVR) seem to be different than in the Middle East. We analysed epidemiological features and SVR rates in a retrospective study of 1532 HCV-4-infected patients, including 1056 patients infected in France, 227 immigrants infected in Egypt and 249 in sub-Saharan Africa. SVR rates were assessed in 242 naive patients of the 1532, who received peginterferon plus ribavirin for 48 weeks. HCV subtype 4a or 4d was the most common among patients infected in France, where the predominant route of transmission was intravenous drug abuse. The 4a subtype was largely predominant (93%) among patients infected in Egypt, where transmission was mostly because of parenteral treatment for schistosomiasis. More than seven different subtypes and no predominant route of infection were found in patients infected in sub-Saharan Africa. Liver fibrosis was significantly less severe in patients infected in France and Africa than in patients infected in Egypt. SVR rates were higher in patients infected in Egypt, compared with those infected in France or Africa (54.9%, 40.3% and 32.4%, respectively, P < 0.05). An overall better response was observed in patients infected with the 4a subtype. In multivariate analysis, two factors were associated independently with SVR: the Egyptian origin of transmission and the absence of severe fibrosis. In conclusion, the distribution of HCV-4 subtypes varies with the geographical origin of transmission and affects the SVR following antiviral treatment.     

不同直接抗病毒药物方案对基因1b型慢性丙型肝炎及代偿期丙型肝炎肝硬化临床结局的影响

目的探讨不同直接抗病毒药物(DAAs)对基因1b型慢性丙型肝炎(CHC)及丙型肝炎代偿期肝硬化(CLC)临床结局的影响。方法以2018年1月-2018年12月就诊于山西医科大学第一医院感染科门诊的115例基因型1b型CHC(n=91)及CLC(n=24)患者为研究对象。所有患者根据病情均采用DAAs抗病毒治疗,CHC患者中28例采用索磷布韦联合维帕他韦方案,21例采用艾尔巴韦格拉瑞韦片方案,16例采用奥比帕利联合达塞布韦方案,13例采用索磷布韦联合达拉他韦方案,13例采用索磷布韦联合利巴韦林方案;CLC患者中15例采用索磷布韦联合维帕他韦方案,4例采用艾尔巴韦格拉瑞韦片方案,5例采用索磷布韦联合达拉他韦方案。分析2组患者的肝功能复常率及病毒学应答率,并观察药物的不良反应。计量资料组间比较采用t检验,计数资料组间比较采用χ^2检验。结果90.4%的患者在治疗1周时获得超快速病毒学应答,98.2%的患者在治疗4周时获得快速病毒学应答,100%的患者在治疗12周时获得完全早期病毒学应答,100%的患者在治疗结束后12周获得持续病毒学应答;不同抗病毒治疗方案在治疗1周、4周时HCV RNA阴转率差异均无统计学意义(χ^2值分别为2.83、0.07,P值均>0.05)。不同抗病毒方案均可明显改善患者肝功能(ALT和AST复常率),不同组间疗效差异均无统计学意义(χ^2值分别为0.83、1.23,P值均>0.05)。DAAs治疗12周后,2组患者肾功能指标与治疗前相比未见有明显升高或降低,差异均无统计学意义(t值分别为1.32、0.56,P值均>0.05)。不良事件的发生率较低,恶心2例(1.74%),头晕、心悸、皮疹、溶血各1例(0.87%)。结论根据病情采用相应DAAs抗病毒方案治疗1b型患者,均可取得较好的病毒学应答率,肝功能改善显著、不良事件的发生率低。     

Open‐label study of faldaprevir plus peginterferon and ribavirin in hepatitis C virus genotype 1‐infected patients who failed placebo plus peginterferon and ribavirin

Faldaprevir, a hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3/4A protease inhibitor, was evaluated in HCV genotype 1‐infected patients who failed peginterferon and ribavirin (PegIFN/RBV) treatment during one of three prior faldaprevir trials. Patients who received placebo plus PegIFN/RBV and had virological failure during a prior trial were enrolled and treated in two cohorts: prior relapsers (n = 43) and prior nonresponders (null responders, partial responders and patients with breakthrough; n = 75). Both cohorts received faldaprevir 240 mg once daily plus PegIFN/RBV for 24 weeks. Prior relapsers with early treatment success (ETS; HCV RNA <25 IU/mL detectable or undetectable at week 4 and <25 IU/mL undetectable at week 8) stopped treatment at week 24. Others received PegIFN/RBV through week 48. The primary efficacy endpoint was sustained virological response (HCV RNA <25 IU/mL undetectable) 12 weeks post treatment (SVR12). More prior nonresponders than prior relapsers had baseline HCV RNA ≥800 000 IU/mL (80% vs 58%) and a non‐CC IL28B genotype (91% vs 70%). Rates of SVR12 (95% CI) were 95.3% (89.1, 100.0) among prior relapsers and 54.7% (43.4, 65.9) among prior nonresponders; corresponding ETS rates were 97.7% and 65.3%. Adverse events led to faldaprevir discontinuations in 3% of patients. The most common Division of AIDS Grade ≥2 adverse events were anaemia (13%), nausea (10%) and hyperbilirubinaemia (9%). In conclusion, faldaprevir plus PegIFN/RBV achieved clinically meaningful SVR12 rates in patients who failed PegIFN/RBV in a prior trial, with response rates higher among prior relapsers than among prior nonresponders. The adverse event profile was consistent with the known safety profile of faldaprevir.     

Impact of age on viral kinetics of peginterferon alfa‐2a/ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C: final analysis from the PROPHESYS cohort

The population of patients with chronic hepatitis C viral infection is ageing; however, elderly, hepatitis C‐infected patients are understudied and less frequently treated. This subanalysis of data from the multinational PROPHESYS study examined associations between age (≤65 vs >65 years), on‐treatment virological response and sustained virological response (SVR) in patients treated with peginterferon alfa‐2a (40KD)/ribavirin in accordance with local licences. PROPHESYS comprised three cohorts studied in 19 countries according to country‐specific legal and regulatory requirements. This subanalysis includes treatment‐naive HCV mono‐infected patients assigned to receive peginterferon alfa‐2a (40KD)/ribavirin, with 6276 individuals aged ≤65 years and 349 aged >65 years. Rapid virological response (RVR) rates by Week 4 were consistently lower in older genotype (G) 1 (21.6% vs 27.2% in younger patients), G2 (80.7% vs 85.1%) and G3 (60.0% vs 74.2%) patients. SVR rates were significantly lower (29.8% vs 43.0%) and relapse rates significantly higher (43.1% vs 26.7%) in older G1 patients (P = 0.0002 vs ≤65 years). In contrast, SVR and relapse rates were similar in G2 and G3 patients regardless of age. The positive predictive value of RVR for SVR was comparable in older and younger G1 patients (66.7% vs 68.6%, respectively) and higher in older G2 (80.7% vs 75.6%) and G3 (77.8% vs 66.8%) patients. Virological response rates are generally lower in elderly CHC patients, and RVR is a reliable positive predictor of SVR in patients >65 years.     

Community‐based real‐world treatment outcomes of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir in Asians with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 6 in the United States

Sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (SOF/LDV) is the first all‐oral ribavirin‐free treatment approved for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 6, offering a safe and highly efficacious treatment option. Large studies evaluating real‐world outcomes of this regimen are lacking. We aim to evaluate real‐world treatment outcomes for HCV genotype 6. A retrospective cohort study evaluated 65 adults (age ≥18) with chronic HCV genotype 6 treated with SOF/LDV without ribavirin at a community gastroenterology clinic in the United States from November 2014 to May 2016. Rates of undetectable virus at week 4 on treatment, at end of treatment (EOT) and SVR12 were stratified by the presence of cirrhosis and prior treatment (treatment naïve vs treatment experienced). Among 65 patients with chronic HCV genotype 6 treated with SOF/LDV (52.3% male, mean age 66.3 years [SD 9.7], 41.5% cirrhosis and 15.4% treatment experienced), 97.3% had undetectable virus at week 4 on treatment, 96.9% had undetectable virus at EOT and 95.3% achieved SVR12. SVR12 was 100% in females vs 91.2% in males, P=.096, and 92.3% in patients with cirrhosis vs 97.4% in those without cirrhosis, P=.347. Resistance testing of treatment failures was attempted but unsuccessful due to lack of conforming primers to define the possible resistance mutations. Among the largest U.S. community‐based real‐world cohort of Asian chronic HCV genotype 6 patients treated with all‐oral SOF/LDV without ribavirin, SVR12 was similar to SVR12 reported in clinical trials, confirming the safety and effectiveness of this regimen and validating current HCV genotype 6 treatment guideline recommendations.     

IL28B polymorphisms determine early viral kinetics and treatment outcome in patients receiving peginterferon/ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C genotype 1

Summary. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) upstream of IL28B predict the outcome of treatment in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but their impact on viral kinetics and relation to other predictors are not well known. Here, two SNPs, rs12979860 and rs8099917, were analysed and related to early viral kinetics during treatment in 110 patients with HCV genotype 1 infection. The reduction of HCV RNA after 7 days of therapy was more pronounced (P < 0.0001) in patients with CC_rs12979860 or TT_rs8099917 than in patients carrying TT_rs12979860 or GG_rs8099917, respectively. The two SNPs were in linkage disequilibrium (d’ = 1, r² = 0.44), but CC_rs12979860 was less common (43%vs 71%) than TT_rs8099917. Patients carrying both CC_rs12979860 and TT_rs8099917 genotypes achieved lower levels of HCV RNA at week 4 than those with CT or TT at rs12979860 and TT_rs8099917 (P = 0.0004). The viral elimination was significantly influenced by rs12979860 independently of baseline viral load, age or fibrosis. This translated into high rates of sustained viral response (SVR) among patients carrying CC_rs12979860 despite the presence of high viral load at baseline (SVR 74%), high age (SVR 79%) or severe liver fibrosis (SVR 83%). We conclude that the IL28B variability influences the antiviral efficiency of interferon/ribavirin therapy and has a strong impact on SVR, independently of traditional response predictors. A combined assessment of these SNPs in conjunction with other response predictors may better predict outcome in difficult‐to‐treat patients.     

Efficacy and tolerability of peginterferon alfa‐2a or alfa‐2b plus ribavirin in the daily routine treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C in Germany: The PRACTICE Study

Summary. In randomized clinical trials, treatment with peginterferon plus ribavirin (RBV) results in a sustained virological response (SVR) in around half of hepatitis C virus genotype 1‐infected and 80% of genotype 2/3‐infected individuals. This study aimed to evaluate efficacy and tolerability of peginterferon alfa‐2a plus RBV compared with peginterferon alfa‐2b plus RBV for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in routine clinical practice. The intent‐to‐treat cohort consisted of 3414 patients treated with either peginterferon alfa‐2a plus RBV (Group A) or peginterferon alfa‐2b plus RBV (Group B) in 23 centres participating in the large, multicentre, observational PRACTICE study. Collected data included baseline characteristics, treatment regimen, RBV dose and outcome. Rates of early virological response, end of treatment response and SVR were 76.6%, 75.7% and 52.9% in Group A, and 70.2%, 65.6% and 50.5% in Group B, respectively. In patients matched by baseline parameters, 59.9% of patients in Group A and 55.9% in Group B achieved an SVR (P ≤ 0.051). In genotype 1‐infected patients matched by baseline parameters and cumulative RBV dose, SVR rates were 49.6% and 43.7% for Group A and Group B, respectively (P ≤ 0.047); when matched by baseline parameters and RBV starting dose, SVR rates were 49.9% and 44.6%, respectively (P = 0.068). Overall, 21.8% of group A and 29.6% of group B patients discontinued treatment (P ≤ 0.0001). The efficacy and tolerability of peginterferon plus RBV in this large cohort of patients treated in routine daily practice was similar to that in randomized clinical trials. In matched pairs analyses, more patients achieved an SVR with peginterferon alfa‐2a compared with peginterferon alfa‐2b.