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Antiviral therapy completion and response rates among hepatitis C patients with and without schizophrenia

Marilyn Huckans1, Alex Mitchell, Samantha Ruimy

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA. marilyn.huckans@va.gov

Schizophrenia Bulletin
|June 20, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C (HCV) patients with schizophrenia completed antiviral therapy and achieved comparable viral response rates to those without schizophrenia. These findings suggest schizophrenia is not a contraindication for HCV treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Psychiatry
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Hepatitis C (HCV) is prevalent in severe mental illness populations.
  • Limited data exists on antiviral therapy outcomes for HCV patients with schizophrenia (SCHZ).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare antiviral therapy completion and response rates in HCV patients with and without schizophrenia (SCHZ).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of veterans from a VHA database (1998-2006).
  • Compared 30 HCV patients with SCHZ to 30 demographically matched HCV patients without SCHZ.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in completion or response rates for genotype 1 HCV.
  • SCHZ patients with genotypes 2/3 were more likely to achieve end-of-treatment response (ETR) and sustained viral response (SVR).
  • No increased risk of discontinuation or hospitalization due to psychiatric symptoms or adverse events in the SCHZ group.

Conclusions:

  • HCV patients with SCHZ demonstrate comparable antiviral therapy completion and response rates to those without SCHZ.
  • Schizophrenia (SCHZ) should not preclude patients from receiving antiviral therapy for Hepatitis C (HCV).
Abstract

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