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Prior Alcohol Use Significantly Impacts Treatment
Response Rates in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C
Studies have shown that past alcohol
consumption reduces response rates in patients
with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon
monotherapy. The aim of the current study at
Temple University
in Philadelphia
was to clarify the importance of alcohol consumption on response
rates in patients undergoing treatment with pegylated
interferon and ribavirin.
In
a single center, prospective study, median daily alcohol consumption
(determined by previously validated method) and quartiles
of alcohol consumption were calculated. Univariate and binary
logistic regression analyses were performed using treatment
response status as the dependent variable.
Results
Overall, in an intention-to-treat
analysis, 34 of 115 patients (30%) responded to treatment.
In univariate
analysis, black
patients, especially those with hepatitis C
virus genotype
1, high
viral load and low alanine aminotransferase,
were significantly less likely to respond.
Predictors of
response by regression analysis included alcohol <30 g/day
(P = 0.04), non-genotype 1 status (P = 0.04) and non-black
race (P = 0.006).
Based
on these results, the authors conclude, Median daily alcohol
use >30 g/day is associated with failure to respond to
pegylated interferon and ribavirin for treatment of hepatitis
C. Past alcohol use should be evaluated when considering treatment
for hepatitis C.
Temple University
Hospital, Philadelphia,
PA, USA.
10/12/05
Reference
A
Chang and others. The impact of past alcohol use on treatment response rates in patients with
chronic hepatitis C. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 22(8):701-706. October
15, 2005.
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