An inadequate dose of ribavirin is related to virological relapse by chronic hepatitis C patients treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin

Predictive factors for 24 weeks sustained virologic response (SVR24) and viral relapse in patients treated with simeprevir plus peginterferon and ribavirin

BACKGROUND

Simeprevir with peginterferon and ribavirin has been used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis caused by genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV). We explored the predictive factors for sustained virological response (SVR) and viral relapse using datasets from four Japanese phase 3 studies (CONCERTO).

METHODS

We used a multiple logistic regression model. First, an integrated dataset comprising 357 patients was analyzed. Subsequently, prior treatment-naïve and relapser (223 patients) and nonresponder (134 patients) of interferon-based treatment subsets were analyzed to identify predictors of SVR. A subset of nonresponders (106 patients) who were treated ≥24 weeks was also analyzed to identify predictors for viral relapse.

RESULTS

In the integrated dataset, prior treatment response was significantly associated with SVR. In subset analyses, interleukin-28B (IL28B) TT genotype and undetectable plasma HCV RNA level at week 4 were associated in treatment-naïve patients and relapsers [odds ratio (OR); 4.106 and 3.701, respectively]. In the nonresponders, the IL28B TT genotype population was very small, and inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) and undetectable plasma HCV RNA at week 4 were associated (OR; 2.506 and 3.333, respectively). Furthermore, ribavirin dose intensity (RBV-DI) and detectable plasma HCV RNA at week 4 were significantly associated with viral relapse (OR; 0.327 and 2.922, respectively).

CONCLUSION

IL28B and plasma HCV RNA level at week 4 were clinically relevant predictive factors for SVR in treatment-naïve patients and relapsers. Moreover, RBV-DI and plasma HCV level at week 4 were identified as relevant predictive factors for viral relapse in nonresponders.

Treating fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis C with sofosbuvir and ribavirin: a matched analysis

BACKGROUND

Fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis (FCH) is an uncommon but potentially fatal complication of recurrent hepatitis C (HCV) in liver transplant recipients.

METHODS

We matched the treatment outcomes of 10 liver transplant recipients who developed FCH with those of 10 recipients with recurrent HCV without FCH treated with sofosbuvir and ribavirin.

RESULTS

Baseline mean alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin were 186 U/L, 197 U/L, 243 U/L, and 6.7 mg/dL, respectively, in the FCH recipients and 82 U/L, 60 U/L, 110 U/L, and 0.99 mg/dL, respectively, in non-FCH recipients. The sustained viral response in FCH and non-FCH recipients was 40% and 80%, respectively. One-yr patient and graft survival rates were 90% and 80%, respectively, in FCH recipients, and 100% in non-FCH recipients. Seven FCH and six non-FCH recipients were treated for anemia with blood transfusion and/or erythropoietin growth factors.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the use of sofosbuvir and ribavirin is effective and tolerable in liver transplant recipients treated for recurrent FCH. There is a trend of lower sustained viral response, patient survival, and graft survival in the FCH recipients.

Relationship between inosine triphosphate genotype and outcome of extended therapy in hepatitis C virus patients with a late viral response to pegylated-interferon and ribavirin

BACKGROUND AND AIM

It is not yet clear which factors are associated with the outcome of 72-week treatment with pegylated-interferon and ribavirin (RBV) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

METHODS

In 66 patients with HCV genotype 1 who had a late viral response (LVR) to 72-week treatment of pegylated-interferon and RBV, we examined the factors that determined the outcome, including single nucleotide polymorphisms of interleukin-28B and inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) genes.

RESULTS

Thirty seven of 66 (56%) patients with LVR achieved a sustained viral response (SVR). The mean age of these 37 SVR patients was 55, compared with 61 in 29 relapsed patients (P = 0.009). Twenty six of 54 (48%) patients with the CC genotype and 11 of 12 (92%) with the CA/AA genotype of ITPA rs1127354 achieved SVR (P = 0.006). The SVR rates were 79%, 40%, 60%, and 33% in patients with undetectable HCV RNA on weeks 16, 20, 24, and 28 or later, respectively (P = 0.014). Finally, serum RBV concentration at week 44 of treatment was significantly higher in the SVR group (2651 ng/mL) than in the relapse group (1989 ng/mL, P = 0.002). In contrast, the rate of the interleukin-28B genotype was not different between the groups. Multiple regression analysis showed that age < 60 years, ITPA CA/AA genotype, and serum RBV concentration were significant independent predictive factors for SVR.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings elucidated the association of four factors, including ITPA genotype, with the outcome of 72-week treatment in LVR patients.