Exploring differences in response to treatment with peginterferon alpha 2a (40kD) and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C between genotypes 2 and 3

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections with genotype 2 or 3 are associated with favourable sustained virologic response (SVR) rates. However, genotype 3 may respond less well. We reassessed all treatment-naive patients with genotype 2 and 3 participating in a large expanded-access, non-randomized, open-label trial, evaluating 180microg pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) alpha-2a (40kD) once weekly and 800 mg/day ribavirin for 24-48 weeks. Factors measured prior to initiation of antiviral therapy were considered in the multiple logistic regression model for predicting SVR. In total, 180 patients were analysed of which 72 (40%) were infected by genotype 2 and 108 (60%) genotype 3. The baseline characteristics between patients infected by genotype 2 or 3 were no different including the distribution of hepatic fibrosis stages by METAVIR score. Overall SVR was lower in those patients infected with genotype 3. The significant multivariate predictors of lack of SVR were hepatic fibrosis (P = 0.014) and genotype 3 (P = 0.030). The negative impact of cirrhosis (METAVIR score F4) on treatment response was more evident among subjects with genotype 3 than those with genotype 2 (P = 0.027). There is significant interaction between cirrhosis and genotype 3 leading to a poor antiviral response in such patients requiring an alternate management strategy. This finding should be confirmed in a larger population.