How Durable is the Sustained Viral Response?
by V. J. Smith, RN, BSN, MA
10 Years of Long-Term Outcome Studies of Interferon Therapy for HCV
Infection

[...] A somewhat larger study conducted at Hopital Beaujon in Clichy,
France examined a cohort of 80 patients who had chronic hepatitis C and
had a sustained virologic response to interferon-alpha therapy for up to
6 years.

The results indicated that during the entire follow-up period, 93
percent of patients had persistently normal serum ALT levels, and serum
HCV RNA remained undetectable in 96 percent of patients

Additionally, a comparison of liver biopsy samples showed a clear
improvement in 94 percent of patients, and in 62 percent of patients,
the last biopsy showed normal or nearly normal results.

[...] A study of 12 patients who achieved SVR after 24 weeks of
interferon-alpha2b / ribavirin treatment was conducted by researchers at
the Huddinge Hospital in Sweden.  The study found that 11 of the 12
patients remained HCV RNA negative 2 years after the termination of
treatment.  

In addition, these researchers found that in 9 of the 12 patients
biopsied at the 2-year follow-up, liver inflammation had disappeared
completely and fibrosis had improved.

[...] Fourteen transplant recipients with chronic hepatitis after liver
transplant were treated with interferon / ribavirin combination therapy,
and demonstrated a sustained viral response.

At the end of a 3-year follow up period, 13 of the 14 patients (93
percent) were found to be HCV RNA negative, and 12 of the 14 patient
showed a clear improvement in liver histology.

[...] Conclusions

Patients who demonstrate non-detectable levels of hepatitis C virus in
serum 6 months after the completion of interferon-based treatment will
remain "clear" in roughly 90 to 100% of cases.

Long-term eradication of the virus results in significant improvements
in liver enzyme levels.

Long-term suppression or eradication of virus in serum results in
significant improvements in inflammation, and in many cases, a reduction
or elimination of liver fibrosis.

Although not specifically discussed in this article, the studies
reviewed also indicated that significant improvement in liver histology
and normalization of aminotransferases can occur during the course of
treatment even if the patient relapses after the termination of
treatment.

Full text at:
http://www.hepatitisneighborhood.com/content/understanding_hepatitis/treating_he
patitisc_2034.aspx

Thomas