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Response to Therapy with Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin in Hispanics with Hepatitis C Compared to Non-Hispanic Whites
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Reported by Jules Levin
DDW (Digestive Disease Week)
May 17-22, 2008
San Diego, CA
Stanley Yu1,2, Jeffrey Douglass1, Clifford Qualls3, Sanjeev Arora1, Jeffrey C Dunkelberg1
1. Gastroenterology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA, 2. Gastroenterology, Albuquerque Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA, 3. General Clinical Research Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
ABSTRACT from Program
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that African Americans have lower response rates to hepatitis C (HCV) therapy. However, studies about the treatment response in Hispanics are limited.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the treatment response of Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites (NHW) with HCV treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.
METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of all treatment-naïve Hispanics and NHW with HCV who were treated at the University of New Mexico or Albuquerque VA Medical Center between October 2001 and January 2007. Genotype 1 patients received 12 months of therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin; genotype 2 and 3 patients received 6 months of treatment.
RESULTS:
A total of 396 patients were included in the analysis, consisting of 179 Hispanics and 217 NHW.
Baseline characteristics of the two groups were not significantly different.
Of the 179 Hispanic patients, 64% were genotype 1 and 36% genotype 2/3.
Of the 217 NHW, 61% were genotype 1 and 39% genotype 2/3.
More Hispanics prematurely discontinued therapy compared to NHW (35% vs. 20%, p<0.001).
In genotype 1 patients, early virologic response (EVR), end of treatment response (ETR), and sustained virologic response (SVR) did not significantly differ between the two groups.
Results for genotype 2/3 patients are presented in the table below.
CONCLUSIONS: Hispanics with genotype 2/3 hepatitis C infection are less likely to achieve ETR and SVR with pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy compared to non-Hispanic whites. After correcting for premature treatment discontinuation, SVR in genotype 2/3 Hispanics continued to be lower due to increased relapse and a diminished ability to maintain viral clearance after treatment completion.
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