Impact of obesity on the bioavailability of peginterferon-α2a and ribavirin and treatment outcome for chronic hepatitis C genotype 2 or 3.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Having a body mass index above or equal to 30 kg/m(2) in conjunction with chronic hepatitis C virus infection is associated with non-responsiveness to treatment with interferon and ribavirin, but details regarding the mechanisms whereby obesity reduces the efficacy of therapy remain unclear.

Methods

This study evaluated impact of obesity on outcome as well as interferon and ribavirin concentrations following standard-of-care fixed dosing with peginterferon-α2a 180 µg once weekly and ribavirin 800 mg daily among 303 HCV genotype 2/3-infected patients enrolled in the per-protocol analysis of a recently completed phase III trial (NORDynamIC).

Results

Patients with BMI ≥30 kg/m(2) showed poorer outcome following 24 weeks of therapy (SVR 62% vs. 89% for

SUBMITTER: Alsio A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3360051 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature