Quasispecies as predictive factor of rapid, early and sustained virological responses in chronic hepatitis C, genotype 1, treated with peginterferon-ribavirin.

Background: The relationship between the complexity of the hypervariable region 1 quasispecies of HCV and responsiveness to therapy is not completely clear.

Objective: To investigate the importance of quasispecies as a predictive factor of rapid (RVR), early (EVR) and sustained (SVR) virologic response.

Methods: Prospective analysis of 82 patients with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 1, treated with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin.

Quasispecies as predictive response factors for antiviral treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

The object of this study was to evaluate the viral factor, especially the quasispecies, as predictive of sustained virologic response. We studied the quasispecies, genotype, viral load, and hepatitis C (HCV) cAg in 41 patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon and in 84 with interferon and ribavirin. In the interferon group, responders presented a lower viral load.