Assessment of the Response to Treatment in Patients with the Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Quantitative Study by Focusing on Virologic and Biochemical Responses

Objectives: The main goal of the treatment of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is reduction and elimination of viruses as well as achieving high sustained viral response (SVR). The present study aimed to assess response to treatment of HCV infection by focusing on virological and biochemical aspects. Methods: This study was performed in Hamadan, Iran on HCV infected patients who were referred between ۲۰۰۹ and ۲۰۱۳. All participants were under the treatment with Pegylated Interferon (PEG-IFN) and Ribavirin (RBV). The duration of treatment varied based on the HCV genotype as ۲۴ weeks for genotypes ۲ and ۳, and ۴۸ weeks for other genotypes. Results: Of the ۱۸۶ patients with HCV infection, ۵۲.۸% had a genotype of ۳a and ۳۵.۶% had a genotype of ۱a/b. Three months after treatment, ۷۵ patients were willing to do quantitative PCR and early virologic response was observed in ۵۸ cases (۷۸.۴%). Also, ۱۱۲ patients were assessed after completing the treatment (۷۵ patients in ۲۴ weeks and ۳۷ patients in ۴۸ weeks treatment protocol) and the end-of-treatment response (ETR) was ۹۴.۷% and ۸۶.۵% respectively. Amongst the ۱۰۳ patients with ETR, ۷۶ were followed up six months after treatment and the PCR was negative in ۷۱ cases (SVR = ۹۳.۴). With the progress and completion of the treatment, improvement is observed in liver function tests. Conclusions: Even with the introduction of new drugs and interferon free protocols in treatment of hepatitis C infection it seems that the IFN-based treatment is still used in low/middle income countries for treatment-naive patients with HCV genotype ۳.