PEG-IFN Therapy for Genotype 1 HCV: 24 or 48?

Patients treated for 24 weeks had higher relapse rates — and therefore lower SVR rates — than did those treated for 48 weeks.

Standard treatment for genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection involves a 48-week course of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV). However, shorter courses would be more desirable, given the side effects associated with this treatment. Some studies of PEG-IFN plus RBV for genotype 1 HCV infection have suggested that, if patients achieve a rapid virologic response (RVR; undetectable viral load at 4 weeks), they are just as likely to achieve a sustained virologic response (SVR; defined in this study as undetectable viral load at 24 weeks) with 24 weeks of therapy as they would with 48 weeks (JW Gastroenterol Oct 6 2006). However, many of these studies were retrospective in nature and had small sample sizes.

Now, researchers …

Reviewing Author

Atif Zaman, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Atif Zaman, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

PEG-IFN Therapy for Genotype 1 HCV: 24 or 48?

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Reviewing Author