The Predictive Factors for Favorable Outcomes of Peginterferon and Ribavirin Combination Therapy in HCV-Infected Patients

Javad  Moayedi; Tayebeh  Hashempour; Zahra  Musavi; Behzad  Dehghani; Zahra  Hasanshahi; Shahin  Merat

doi:10.18502/acta.v58i5.3954

Javad Moayedi
Tayebeh Hashempour
Zahra Musavi
Behzad Dehghani
Zahra Hasanshahi
Shahin Merat

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/acta.v58i5.3954

Keywords: Hepatitis C virus (HCV); Sustained virological response; Predictive marker; Transaminase

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the association of pretreatment host and/or viral related factors with sustained virological response (SVR) rate in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infected patients. This cohort study was performed on 200 IFN-naïve Iranian CHC patients who were treated with pegylated interferon-α (PEG-IFN-α) plus ribavirin (RBV). Pretreatment levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), fasting blood sugar (FBS), HCV load and genotype were determined, and the pattern of changes was monitored throughout the course of treatment. The baseline FBS value in the non-responder group was significantly higher than that of the SVR group. The SVR group showed a rapid and continuous decline of ALT/AST activity from the beginning of the treatment, while the ALT level was fluctuating in non-responder and relapse groups. Persistent normalization of transaminases during combination antiviral therapy was significantly associated with SVR rate. Besides, age and FBS levels had the greatest impact on SVR. Minocycline seems to be a safe and effective adjuvant in the management of patients with schizophrenia.