RAPID VIROLOGICAL RESPONSE REPRESENTS THE HIGHEST PREDICTION FACTOR OF RESPONSE TO ANTIVIRAL TREATMENT IN HCV-RELATED CHRONIC HEPATITIS: A MULTICENTER RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

摘要

Background: Standard [i.e. pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) + ribavirin] treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic hepatitis is associated with a sustained virological response (SVR) in 50 - 90% of patients. A rapid virological response (RVR) (i.e. negative HCV-RNA after 4 weeks of treatment) predicts SVR in almost 90% of patients.Objectives: The main aim of this study was to assess the strength of RVR, as a predictive factor of antiviral treatment response.Patients and Methods: Using univariate and multivariate analysis, we retrospectively evaluated biochemical, metabolic, genetic and viral variables that might affect both RVR and SVR to Peg-IFN plus ribavirin, in 315 consecutive outpatients affected by HCV-related chronic hepatitis.Results: At univariate analysis, staging, body mass index, RVR, genotype and viral load were significantly related to SVR (P Conclusions: The RVR is the strongest factor of SVR and infection with HCV genotype 2 is significantly associated with RVR. Neither biochemical and/or metabolic factors seem to exert influence on RVR.