Interferon Treatment Duration in Patients With Chronic Delta Hepatitis and its Effect on the Natural Course of the Disease
- 7 February 2018
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in The Journal of Infectious Diseases
- Vol. 217 (8), 1184-1192
- https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jix656
Abstract
Interferon is the only treatment option in chronic delta hepatitis (CDH). A CDH database (333 patients, 161 with interferon treatment history) was analyzed for effects of treatment duration on virologic response and clinical outcomes. Ninety-nine CDH patients who received at least 6 months of interferon were selected. Maintained virologic response (MVR) was defined as hepatitis D virus RNA negative for 2 years after treatment discontinuation. Cumulative median interferon treatment duration was 24 months (range 6–126 months), with a median of 2 courses (range 1–8). Post-treatment median follow-up was 55 months (24–225 months). Thirty-five patients achieved MVR. Cumulative probability of MVR increased with treatment duration and reached 50% at 5 years. Patients with MVR were less likely to die from liver disease or develop complications compared to patients without MVR (P = .032, P = .006, respectively). Cirrhosis at baseline and no response to therapy (odds ratio 16.1 and 5.23, respectively) predicted an adverse endpoint. Hepatitis B surface antigen clearance occurred in 37% of patients with MVR. Viral response to interferon increases with treatment duration and favorably affects the natural course of disease. Interferon treatment duration has to be individualized with careful post-treatment assessment.Keywords
Funding Information
- Ankara University Scientific Project System
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