Coffee consumption is associated with response to peginterferon and ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Gastroenterology. 2011 Jun;140(7):1961-9. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2011.02.061. Epub 2011 Mar 2.

Abstract

Background & aims: High-level coffee consumption has been associated with reduced progression of pre-existing liver diseases and lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, its relationship with therapy for hepatitis C virus infection has not been evaluated.

Methods: Patients (n=885) from the lead-in phase of the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-Term Treatment Against Cirrhosis Trial recorded coffee intake before retreatment with peginterferon α-2a (180 μg/wk) and ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day). We assessed patients for early virologic response (2 log10 reduction in level of hepatitis C virus RNA at week 12; n=466), and undetectable hepatitis C virus RNA at weeks 20 (n=320), 48 (end of treatment, n=284), and 72 (sustained virologic response; n=157).

Results: Median log10 drop from baseline to week 20 was 2.0 (interquartile range [IQR], 0.6-3.9) among nondrinkers and 4.0 (IQR, 2.1-4.7) among patients that drank 3 or more cups/day of coffee (P trend<.0001). After adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, sex, alcohol, cirrhosis, ratio of aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase, the IL28B polymorphism rs12979860, dose reduction of peginterferon, and other covariates, odds ratios for drinking 3 or more cups/day vs nondrinking were 2.0 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-3.6; P trend=.004) for early virologic response, 2.1 (95% CI: 1.1-3.9; P trend=.005) for week 20 virologic response, 2.4 (95% CI: 1.3-4.6; P trend=.001) for end of treatment, and 1.8 (95% CI: 0.8-3.9; P trend=.034) for sustained virologic response.

Conclusions: High-level consumption of coffee (more than 3 cups per day) is an independent predictor of improved virologic response to peginterferon plus ribavirin in patients with hepatitis C.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00006164.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Coffee*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / drug therapy
  • Liver Cirrhosis / virology
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Polyethylene Glycols / therapeutic use*
  • Propensity Score
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United States
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • Coffee
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • RNA, Viral
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • peginterferon alfa-2a

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00006164

Grants and funding