High viral load predicts virologic failure in chronic genotype 2 hepatitis C virus-infected patients receiving glecaprevir/pibrentasvir therapy

Wei Ming Chen, Kuo Liang Wei, Shui Yi Tung, Chien Heng Shen, Te Sheng Chang, Chih Wei Yen, Yung Yu Hsieh, Wen Nan Chiu, Jin Hung Hu, Sheng Nan Lu, Chao Hung Hung*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The real-world data of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 infection remained limited. We aimed to evaluate the possible predictors of virological failure and side effects of GLE/PIB therapy for chronic genotype 2 HCV-infected patients in a real-world setting. Methods: A total of 326 compensated HCV genotype 2 patients treated with GLE/PIB 12 weeks for cirrhotic patients (n = 56) and 8 weeks for non-cirrhotic patients (n = 270) were enrolled. Results: The sustained virological response 12 weeks off therapy (SVR12) was 98.1%, 100%, and 97.7% in overall, GLE/PIB 12-week, and 8-week group, respectively. There were 6 (1.8%) patients with early withdrawal, and 14.1% patients had pruritus, the major adverse effect. In multivariate analyses, end-stage renal disease (odds ratio (OR) = 4.056, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.477–11.14, p = 0.007) and hypertension (OR = 2.325, 95% CI = 1.171–4.616, p = 0.016) were two significant factors associated with pruritus. There were 6 patients with virologic failure. In patients receiving 8-week GLE/PIB therapy, the SVR12 rate was significant lower in high baseline viral load (≥107 IU/ml) group compared to low viral load group (90.6% v.s 98.7%, p = 0.025). Multivariate analyses showed that HCV RNA≥107 IU/ml was one of the independent factors (OR = 0.134, 95% CI = 0.024–0.748; p = 0.022) associated with SVR12. Conclusion: GIE/PIB is an effective, tolerable and safe agent to treat genotype 2 HCV infected patients. However, high viral load (≥107 IU/ml) may predict virologic failure in non-cirrhotic patients receiving 8 weeks GIE/PIB treatment. This result should be further validated in a large cohort in the future.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1593-1600
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume119
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 11 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020

Keywords

  • Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir
  • Hepatitis C virus
  • Pruritus
  • Sustained viral response
  • Virological failure

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