Efficacy of PEG-interferon based treatment in patients with hepatitis C refractory to previous conventional interferon-based treatment.

OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy of peg-interferon-based therapy in patients refractory to previous conventional interferon-based treatment and factors predicting sustained viral response (SVR). STUDY DESIGN Analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Medical Unit IV, Liaquat University Hospital, Jamshoro, from July 2009 to June 2011. METHODOLOGY This study included consecutive patients of hepatitis C who were previously treated with conventional interferon-based treatment for 6 months but were either non-responders, relapsed or had virologic breakthrough and stage ≥ 2 with fibrosis on liver biopsy. All eligible patients were provided peg-interferon at the dosage of 180 μg weekly with ribavirin thrice a day for 6 months. Sustained Viral Response (SVR) was defined as absence of HCV RNA at 24th week after treatment. All data was processed on SPSS version 16. RESULTS Out of 450 patients enrolled in the study, 192 were excluded from the study on the basis of minimal fibrosis (stage 0 and 1). Two hundred and fifty eight patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and 247 completed the course of peg-interferon treatment. One hundred and sixty one (62.4%) were males and 97 (37.6%) were females. The mean age was 39.9 ± 6.1 years, haemoglobin was 11.49 ± 2.45 g/dl, platelet count was 127.2 ± 50.6 103/mm3, ALT was 99 ± 65 IU/L. SVR was achieved in 84 (32.6%). The strong association was found between SVR and the pattern of response (p = 0. 001), degree of fibrosis and early viral response (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION Peg-interferon based treatment is an effective and safe treatment option for patients refractory to conventional interferon-based treatment.