Interferon and ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 6: a comparison with genotype 1

J Infect Dis. 2003 Apr 1;187(7):1071-4. doi: 10.1086/368217. Epub 2003 Mar 7.

Abstract

Because there is a lack of data on the treatment outcome of patients who carry hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 6, we conducted a prospective study, to compare the effect of interferon and ribavirin therapy in HCV genotypes 1 and 6, of patients with seropositive anti-HCV, persistently elevated alanine transaminase levels, and detectable HCV RNA. Patients were treated with subcutaneous recombinant interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin for 12 months. Of 40 patients, 16 had genotype 6, and 24 had genotype 1. An end-of-treatment response was detected in 12 (75%) patients with genotype 6 and in 10 (41.6%) patients with genotype 1 (P=.05). A sustained virological response (SVR) was present in 10 (62.5%) patients with genotype 6 and in 7 (29.2%) patients with genotype 1 (P=.04). Genotype 6 has a better response than genotype 1 and is associated with a higher SVR.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Genes, Viral
  • Genotype
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects*
  • Hepacivirus / genetics*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / virology*
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / pharmacology
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ribavirin / pharmacology
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ribavirin