Menopause, and not age, is a critical factor associated with a worse response to antiviral therapy in women affected by chronic hepatitis C

摘要

We read with great interest the article entitled “Impact of sex on virologic response rates in genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C patients with peg-interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin treatment”.1 It was shown that in women affected by chronic hepatitis C and treated with antiviral therapy, the sustained virological response (SVR) rate decreases with age as a likely consequence of gradual estrogen decline. Moreover, it was reported that among young patients, SVR is higher in females than in males, while in older subjects the opposite occurs.