Real-world effectiveness of peginterferon α-2b plus ribavirin in a Canadian cohort of treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis C patients with genotypes 2 or 3: results of the PoWer and RediPEN studies

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the real-life effectiveness of pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) α-2b with ribavirin (RBV) in a cohort of treatment-naïve patients with chronic genotypes 2 (G2) or 3 (G3) hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A post-hoc pooled analysis of two Canadian multicenter, observational studies, RediPEN and PoWer, was carried out. A total of 1242 G2- or G3-infected patients were included. The primary outcome was sustained virologic response (SVR). Secondary endpoints included early virologic response (EVR), end-of-treatment (EOT) response, and relapse. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of treatment response. SVR in G2 and G3 was 74.4 % and 63.6 %, respectively. Relapse occurred in 12.7 % and 19.1 % of G2- and G3-infected patients achieving EOT response, respectively. Overall, G3 was found to independently predict reduced SVR [odds ratio (OR) = 0.20; p = 0.007] and increased relapse (OR = 6.84; p = 0.022). Among G3-infected patients, increasing fibrosis score was the most important factor predicting reduced SVR [F2 vs. F0/F1 (OR = 0.41; p = 0.009); F3 vs. F0/F1 (OR = 0.72; p = 0.338); F4 vs. F0/F1 (OR = 0.27; p = 0.001)]. Male gender (OR = 13.16; p = 0.020) and higher fibrosis score [F2 vs. F0/F1 (OR = 9.72; p = 0.016); F3/F4 vs. F0/F1 (OR = 4.23; p = 0.113)] were associated with increased relapse in G3 patients. These results support the real-life effectiveness of peg-IFN α-2b plus ribavirin in HCV G2- and G3-infected patients. Overall, genotype was identified as the most significant predictor of treatment outcome. Fibrosis score and gender were key outcome predictors in the G3-infected population. In clinical settings, peg-INF/RBV offers an alternative for patients without access to all oral direct-acting antivirals.

The pattern of pegylated interferon-α2b and ribavirin treatment failure in cirrhotic patients depends on hepatitis C virus genotype

Background

Failure of anti-hepatitis C therapy encompasses both primary non-response and post-treatment relapse. Treatment failure to pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)-α2b and ribavirin (RBV) largely depends upon virus genotype, but the interaction between genotype, cirrhosis and pattern of treatment failure is unclear. We aimed to assess whether cirrhosis modifies the pattern of PEG-IFN-α2b and RBV treatment failure.

Methods

A total of 471 treatment-naive patients with histologically proven chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (106 with cirrhosis; 185 with HCV genotype 1 [HCV-1], 157 with HCV genotype 2 [HCV-2], 92 with HCV genotype 3 [HCV-3] and 37 with HCV genotype 4 [HCV-4]) were consecutively treated with PEG-IFN-α2b 1.5 μg weekly and weight-based RBV.

Results

The sustained virological response (SVR) rates were 31% in HCV-1 and HCV-4, 80% in HCV-2 and 72% in HCV-3, and were lower in cirrhotic than in non-cirrhotic HCV-1 and HCV-4 (17% versus 36%; P=0.01), and HCV-3 (33% versus 79%; P=0.001), but not HCV-2 (69% versus 83%; P=0.1) patients. Treatment failure was the consequence of lower end-of-treatment response rates (37% versus 53%; P=0.06) plus higher post-treatment relapse rates (55% versus 31%; P=0.07) in cirrhotic HCV-1 and HCV-4 patients and higher rates of post-treatment relapse in HCV-2 (29% versus 10%; P=0.01) and HCV-3 cirrhotic patients (61% versus 12%; P<0.001). By multi-variate analysis, HCV-1 and HCV-4 (odds ratio [OR] 7.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.87–11.36), and cirrhosis (OR 3.00, 95% CI 1.80–5.00) were independent predictors of treatment failure.

Conclusions

Cirrhosis is an important moderator of SVR, accounting for different patterns of treatment failure in patients infected with different genotypes.

Pegylated Interferon-α2b plus Ribavirin: An Efficacious and well-Tolerated Treatment Regimen for Patients with Hepatitis C virus Related Histologically Proven Cirrhosis

Background

Little is known about the efficacy, safety and tolerability of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and histologically proven fully established cirrhosis. We aimed here to evaluate the safety of this regimen in such patients and to identify baseline and on-treatment predictors of a sustained virological response (SVR).

Methods

Patients with histologically proven, HCV-induced cirrhosis were randomized to receive pegylated interferon-α2b (PEG-IFN-α2b; 1.0 μg/kg/week, n=56; group A) or recombinant interferon-α2b (IFN-α2b; 3 million IU three times/week, n=36; group B), each in combination with a weight-based dose of ribavirin (800–1,200 mg/day) for up to 48 weeks. The primary endpoint of the study was the assessment of SVR, defined as undetectable HCV RNA 24 weeks after treatment cessation.

Results

Overall, 40% (37/93) of patients attained SVR: 44% (25/57) in group A and 33% (12/36) in group B ( P=0.31). SVR rates were significantly higher in genotype 2/3 patients than in genotype 1 patients (69% versus 25%; P<0.0001). Platelet count at baseline, rapid virological response, and early virological response were predictors of SVR. Twelve patients discontinued treatment because of an adverse event and 20 patients required ribavirin dose reduction for the management of anaemia.

Conclusions

PEG-IFN-α2b plus ribavirin for 48 weeks is an efficacious and well-tolerated treatment regimen for patients with HCV-induced cirrhosis. Although SVR rates were more satisfactory in genotype 2/3 than in genotype 1 patients, our study identified additional predictors of response that could allow physicians to better manage treatment in this ‘difficult-to-cure’ subset of patients.