Brief Articles
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 21, 2009; 15(35): 4429-4433
Published online Sep 21, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.4429
Sustained virological response in a predominantly hepatitis C virus genotype 4 infected population
Yaser Dahlan, Hafiz-Mughees Ather, Majid Al-ahmadi, Faisal Batwa, Waleed Al-hamoudi
Yaser Dahlan, Hafiz-Mughees Ather, Majid Al-ahmadi, Faisal Batwa, Departement of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical city, Jeddah 21423, Saudi Arabia
Waleed Al-hamoudi, Departement of Medicine, King Saud University, PO Box 2925 (59), Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia
Author contributions: The manuscript was written by Al-hamoudi W and Ather HM; Data collection and analysis were conducted by Al-ahmadi M and Batwa F; The final revision and approval was by Dahlan Y.
Correspondence to: Dr. Yaser Dahlan, MD, Head, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Health Affairs, PO BOX 9515, Jeddah 21423, Saudi Arabia. yaserdahlan@hotmail.com
Telephone: +966-558822133 Fax: +966-26240000
Received: July 12, 2009
Revised: August 8, 2009
Accepted: August 15, 2009
Published online: September 21, 2009
Abstract

AIM: To assess sustained virological response (SVR) rates in a predominantly hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 infected population.

METHODS: Between 2003-2007, 240 patients who were treated for chronic hepatitis C infection at our center were included. Epidemiological data, viral genotypes, and treatment outcomes were evaluated in all treated patients. Patients with chronic renal failure, previous non-responders, and those who relapsed after previous treatment were excluded from the study. Among all patients, 57% were treated with PEG-interferon (IFN) α-2a and 43% patients were treated with PEG-IFN α-2b; both groups received a standard dose of ribavirin.

RESULTS: 89.6% of patients completed the treatment with an overall SVR rate of 58%. The SVR rate was 54% in genotype 1, 44% in genotype 2, 73% in genotype 3, and 59% in genotype 4 patients. There was no statistical difference in the SVR rate between patients treated with PEG-IFN α-2a and PEG-IFN α-2b (61.5% vs 53%). Patients younger than 40 years had higher SVR rates than older patients (75% vs 51%, P = 0.001). SVR was also statistically significantly higher when the HCV RNA load (pretreatment) was below 800.000 (64% vs 50%, P = 0.023), in patients with a body mass index (BMI) less than 28 (65% vs 49%, P = 0.01), and in patients who completed the treatment duration (64% vs 8%, P ≤ 0.00001).

CONCLUSION: The SVR rate in our study is higher than in previous studies. Compliance with the standard duration of treatment, higher ribavirin dose, younger age, lower BMI, and low pretreatment RNA levels were associated with a higher virological response.

Keywords: Hepatitis C virus infection; Sustained virological response; Genotype 4