Background: Pegylated (PEG)-interferon (IFN)-alfa-2a plus ribavirin (RBV) therapy for 24 weeks is now a standard treatment protocol for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2. As RBV cannot be used in certain situations, we examined whether PEG-IFN-alfa-2a monotherapy for 24 weeks or less would be sufficient to obtain a sustained virological response (SVR) in patients infected with HCV genotype 2.
Methods: Forty-nine consecutive patients with HCV genotype 2 received PEG-IFN-alfa-2a (180 μg/week) subcutaneously without oral RBV for 8-64 weeks. HCV RNA level was determined by COBAS AMPLICOR HCV Test, v2.0.
Results: HCV RNA was equal to or less than 100 KIU/mL (defined as low viral load) in 15 of 49 patients, and the remaining 34 had HCV RNA above 100 KIU/mL (defined as high viral load). All 15 patients with low viral load achieved rapid virological response (RVR; HCV RNA negative at week 4), and also achieved SVR with an average treatment duration of 17.1 weeks. The 34 patients with high viral load were treated for 33.7 weeks on average, and 19 of them (55.9%) achieved RVR. The SVR rates of these patients were significantly higher in those with RVR than without RVR (16/19 vs. 6/15 p = 0.0074).
Conclusion: PEG-IFN-alfa-2a monotherapy for 24 weeks or less might be sufficient to treat selected patients with HCV genotype 2, especially those with low viral load and becoming negative for HCV RNA by week 4 of treatment.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-4-316 | DOI Listing |
Viruses
December 2024
NKC Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Songklanagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla 90110, Thailand.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections remain significant public health challenges in Asia, affecting millions and contributing to substantial morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of these infections varies across the region, with factors such as vaccination coverage, healthcare infrastructure, and sociocultural barriers influencing the epidemiology of both viruses. The persistent burden of chronic HBV, particularly in older populations, and the evolving HCV genotype landscape highlight the need for targeted, region-specific strategies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFViruses
December 2024
Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy.
The determinants of hepatitis C virus (HCV) viral load remain incompletely understood and may differ in females, who are relatively protected from the consequences of HCV infection during their reproductive years. We aimed to evaluate how age affects the relationship between sex and viral load. = 922 patients (males = 497, median age 62 years), all naïve to direct antiviral agents, were studied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMJ Open Gastroenterol
January 2025
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Astana, Kazakhstan
Objective: The emergence of resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) poses a significant challenge to the effective treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection using direct-acting antivirals. This study's objective was to observe the prevalence of HCV genotypes and RAS within the Former Soviet Union (FSU) countries.
Methods: We analysed 60 NS3, 313 NS5A and 1119 NS5B sequences of HCV deposited in open-access databases from 11 FSU countries for the prevalence of genotypes and the presence of RAS using the Geno2Pheno software.
Hemodial Int
January 2025
Hepatology Department, Centre Hospitalo Universitaire Mustapha, Algiers, Algeria.
Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of locally manufactured generic sofosbuvir-based direct-acting antivirals in the treatment of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients on maintenance hemodialysis.
Patients And Methods: We have conducted a retrospective multicenter study including patients on maintenance hemodialysis, treated with sofosbuvir-based regimens between 01/01/2017 and 09/30/2021. Patients were treated for 12 or 24 weeks, with sofosbuvir 400 mg + ledipasvir 90 mg 3 times/week, or sofosbuvir 3 times/week + daclatasvir 60 mg/d, or sofosbuvir + daclatasvir in coformulation, 3 times/week.
Virol J
January 2025
Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Virologia, Instituto Oswaldo cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Background: Nonenveloped viruses, such as hepatitis A virus (HAV) and parvovirus B19 (B19V), are not inactivated by detergents and solvents commonly used to manufacture plasma derivatives. Cases of transfusion-transmitted HAV and B19V have already been described in several countries. This study aimed to determine the incidence of HAV and B19V asymptomatic infections in blood donors from Rio de Janeiro and evaluate the residual risk of transmission to blood derivative recipients.
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