Research ArticleRefined prediction of week 12 response and SVR based on week 4 response in HCV genotype 1 patients treated with peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) and ribavirin

Background & AimsIt is unclear whether the magnitude of reduction in hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA between baseline and week 4 of treatment influences the probability of achieving a sustained virological response (SVR) in patients without a week 4 rapid virological response (RVR).MethodsData were retrospectively analyzed from two studies in which treatment-naive patients received peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) 180 μg/week plus ribavirin 1000/1200 mg/day for 48 weeks. Five hundred and fifty-eight genotype 1 patients with evaluable HCV RNA at baseline and week 4 were grouped according to RVR status: RVR (HCV RNA <50 IU/ml) or no RVR. Non-RVR patients were subdivided into discrete mutually exclusive categories according to week 4 HCV RNA; the proportion of patients with undetectable HCV RNA at week 12 was calculated per each category, and among them, the proportion with an SVR.ResultsOverall, 88% of RVR patients and 43% of non-RVR patients achieved an SVR (p <0.0001). Among non-RVR patients, SVR rates were 77%, 61%, 43%, 27% and 13%, respectively (trend test p <0.0001) in those with unquantifiable HCV RNA or ⩾3 log10, ⩾2 log10, ⩾1 log10, or <1 log10 drop to week 4. In patients HCV RNA positive at week 4, SVR rates were 67% for those negative at week 12 vs. 17% (HCV RNA positive patients or who had missing values at week 12 [p <0.0001]).ConclusionsThe probability of achieving SVR is graded in relation to the magnitude of reduction in HCV RNA at week 4 and 12. Patients with a ⩾3 log10 drop in HCV RNA at week 4 have a high probability of achieving an SVR.