Extending combination therapy with peginterferon plus ribavirin for genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C virological responders: a pilot study of 7 cases.

OBJECTIVE In treatment-resistant patients with genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C the suitable treatment duration is still unclear. The aims were to investigate extending combination therapy with peginterferon plus ribavirin for genotype 2. METHODS 7 patients infected with genotype 2 at a high viral load and who did not achieve a sustained virological response (SVR) with the first course of 24-week IFN plus ribavirin were recruited into the study protocol with a total of 48 weeks of peginterferon plus ribavirin therapy. RESULTS SVR was achieved in 5 of 7 patients (71%). All 4 patients (100%) who were in relapse with the first course achieved SVR. Only 1 of 3 patients (33%) who had a non-virological response (NVR) with the first course achieved SVR. All 4 patients who had an early virological response (EVR) with the first course achieved EVR and SVR. Two of 3 patients who had no EVR with the first course also did not achieve EVR and SVR. One patient who had no EVR or a NVR during the first course achieved EVR and SVR with the second course. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that extending combination therapy for genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C might be useful for patients who relapse following 24-week combination therapy.