Effect of HCV RNA suppression during peginterferon alfa-2a maintenance therapy on clinical outcomes in the HALT-C trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

The Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-term Treatment Against Cirrhosis (HALT-C) trial demonstrated that low-dose peginterferon maintenance therapy was ineffective in preventing clinical outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis C, advanced fibrosis, and failure to achieve a sustained virologic response during lead-in phase treatment with standard dose peginterferon/ribavirin. This analysis was performed to determine whether suppressing HCV RNA during the trial was associated with a reduction in clinical outcomes.

Methods

Seven hundred sixty-four patients treated during the lead-in phase of HALT-C trial were randomized to either peginterferon alfa-2a (90 microg/week) maintenance therapy or no treatment (control) for 3.5 years. Clinical outcomes included an increa

SUBMITTER: Shiffman ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3774149 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature