Abstract

Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 6 is common in patients from parts of China and Southeast Asia. No study to date has examined the treatment response to peginterferon and ribavirin (PEG IFN + RBV) in these patients, or the effects of treatment duration on sustained virologic response (SVR) rates.We performed a retrospective study of 190 consecutive Asian-American patients who were diagnosed with HCV genotype 6 at a gastroenterology clinic in northern California between 2001 and 2004, 66 of whom were treatment-naïve and subsequently completed 24 wk of IFN + RBV or PEG IFN + RBV or 48 wk of PEG IFN + RBV therapy. The primary outcome was SVR.There was no statistical difference in SVR of 31 patients treated with 24 wk of IFN + RBV and in 23 patients treated with 24 wk of PEG IFN + RBV (51.6%vs 39%, P= 0.363). The SVR in 12 patients treated with 48 wk of PEG IFN + RBV was significantly higher than that in those treated for only 24 wk (75%vs 39%, P= 0.044).Treatment-eligible patients with HCV genotype 6 should be treated with a full course of 48 wk as tolerated. Larger prospective studies of patients with HCV genotype 6 are needed to confirm the optimal treatment duration with PEG IFN + RBV.

View details for DOI 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2008.01793.x

View details for Web of Science ID 000255750000010

View details for PubMedID 18477343