Journal of Gastrointestinal Infections

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VOLUME 5 , ISSUE 1 ( 2015 ) > List of Articles

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Treatment results and factors affecting sustained virological response in chronic hepatitis C patients in Northern India

Deepinder Kaur, Rajoo Singh Chhina, Omesh Goyal, Prerna Goyal

Keywords : Chronic hepatitis C, pegylated interferon, ribavirin

Citation Information : Kaur D, Chhina RS, Goyal O, Goyal P. Treatment results and factors affecting sustained virological response in chronic hepatitis C patients in Northern India. J Gastrointest Infect 2015; 5 (1):24-30.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-jogi-5-1-24

License: CC BY-SA 4.0

Published Online: 01-06-2015

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2015; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background and Objectives: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Data on the treatment outcomes of CHC with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin (PEG-RBV) in Indian patients are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety and factors associated with sustained virological response (SVR) in CHC patients treated with PEG-RBV in northern India. Materials and Methods: Consecutive treatment naïve patients with CHC infection treated with PEG-RBV combination therapy between January 2011 and December 2014 were included. Patients with cirrhosis and other contraindications were excluded. Results: Of the total 108 patients enrolled, 102 (94.4%) patients completed the treatment (mean age- 43 ±12.7 years; 62% males). The mean BMI was 23.9 ± 4.2 and mean ALT was 85.7 ± 68 IU/L. HCV viral load >4,00,000 IU/ml was present in 45.4%. The most common genotype was 3 (69.4%; n=75), followed by genotype 1 (26.8%; n=29) and genotype 4 (3.7%; n=4). By intention-to-treat analysis, the overall SVR rate was 94.4% (102/108). In genotype 1 patients it was 86.2% (25/29) and 98.7% (74/75) (p=02) in genotype 3 patients. On multivariate analysis, non-genotype 3 infection predicted lower SVR. Interpretation and Conclusions: SVR rates in CHC patients treated in northern India with PEG-RBV therapy in our study (86.2% for genotype 1 and 98.7% in genotype 3) were better than those reported in western and other Indian studies. Better patient compliance, better monitoring and better management of adverse events lead to superior treatment outcomes.


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