Rate of sustained virologic response in relation to baseline hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA level and rapid virologic clearance in persons with acute HCV infection

J Infect Dis. 2009 Sep 15;200(6):877-81. doi: 10.1086/605444.

Abstract

Treatment of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection leads to a sustained virologic response (SVR) in the vast majority of patients, although the clinical predictors of these favorable responses are not well understood. In chronic infection, the most potent predictor of a SVR is complete viral suppression after 4 weeks of treatment, also known as a rapid virologic response (RVR). However, few patients with HCV genotype 1 infection and high-level viremia ever achieve this benchmark. In 2 separate cohorts of patients with acute HCV infection, we demonstrate that rapid virologic clearance and low-level viremia (HCV RNA level, <400,000 IU/mL) are highly prevalent, regardless of HCV genotype.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects
  • Hepacivirus / genetics*
  • Hepatitis C / blood
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis C / virology
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyethylene Glycols / administration & dosage
  • Polyethylene Glycols / therapeutic use*
  • RNA, Viral / blood*
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ribavirin / administration & dosage
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use*
  • Viremia / drug therapy
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • RNA, Viral
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • peginterferon alfa-2b