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Differences in treatment outcome for hepatitis C among ethnic groups
Matthew J Hepburn1, Lisa M Hepburn, Norma S Cantu
1Department of Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam, Houston, Texas, USA. matthew.hepburn@amedd.army.mil
The American Journal of Medicine
|July 28, 2004
Summary
Hepatitis C treatment response varies significantly by ethnicity. Asian patients showed the highest sustained virologic response to interferon and ribavirin, while African Americans and Hispanics had lower rates.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Pharmacogenetics
Background:
- Previous interferon-based therapy studies for hepatitis C virus (HCV) showed varied response rates across ethnicities.
- These studies often had limited inclusion of ethnic minority populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate ethnicity as a predictor of treatment success in hepatitis C.
- To analyze factors influencing sustained virologic response to combination therapy.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from two multicenter trials (one randomized, one observational) of combination therapy for hepatitis C.
- Inclusion of treatment-naïve patients, with ethnicity self-reported.
- Sustained virologic response defined as negative HCV RNA at 24 weeks post-therapy.
Main Results:
- A total of 661 patients were analyzed.
- Sustained virologic response rates were highest in Asians (61%), followed by whites (39%), Hispanics (23%), and African Americans (14%).
- After adjusting for other factors, Asians remained more likely to respond, while Hispanics and African Americans were less likely to respond compared to whites.
Conclusions:
- Sustained response rates to interferon and ribavirin therapy for hepatitis C differ significantly among ethnic groups.
- Ethnicity is independently associated with treatment outcomes, even when controlling for other influential factors.