Sohail Bhutta, Wasim Uddin, Muzamil Jamil.
Short duration therapy with standard interferon and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis-c genotype 3a patients. is it too short?.
Ann Pak Inst Med Sci Jan ;7(2):86-9.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of 12 weeks therapy for genotype 3a chronic hepatitis C (CHC ) patients, who achieve RVR after 4 weeks of start of treatment and to determine the predictors of good response among these patients. Study Design: Place and duration: Materials and Methods: In this 57 treatment known CHC genotype 3a patients between 16-60 years of age fulfilling inclusion criteria were treated with standard interferon and ribavirin for 3 months, provided the patients achieved positive RVR at one month . The frequency of RVR, ETR and sustained virological response (SVR) was calculated and predictors of good response were determined. Results: Male to female ratio was 1:1.1. Mean age of patients was 39.2+ 2 years. RVR was found in 82% of patients. ETR was observed in 82% amongst those achieving RVR. SVR was 60.97% among those achieving end treatment response (ETR). Relapse rate was 31.71%. Mean age among SVR patients was 34 years. Among the patients showing SVR 56% were males. Average baseline ALT among patients with SVR was 115 I.U. Conclusion: Short duration therapy of 12 weeks based on standard interferon and ribavirin in genotype 3 patients may not be an effective regimen. It is associated with high breakthrough and relapse rates. Simply by prolonging the duration of therapy to 24 weeks in patients who achieve RVR might be a good alternative. Raised ALT, male gender and young age are predictors of good response in our patients.

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