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Effect Of Hcv Rna Suppression During Peginterferon Alfa-2a Maintenance Therapy On Clinical Outcomes In The Halt-C Trial, Herbert L. Bonkovsky
Effect Of Hcv Rna Suppression During Peginterferon Alfa-2a Maintenance Therapy On Clinical Outcomes In The Halt-C Trial, Herbert L. Bonkovsky
UCHC Articles - Research
Background and Aims
The HALT-C trial demonstrated that low-dose peginterferon maintenance therapy was ineffective in preventing clinical outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis C, advanced fibrosis and failure to achieve a sustained virologic response during lead-in phase treatment with standard dose peginterferon/ribavirin. This analysis was performed to determine if suppressing HCV RNA during the trial was associated with a reduction in clinical outcomes.
Methods
764 patients treated during the lead-in phase of HALT-C were randomized to either peginterferon alfa-2a (90 mcg/week) maintenance therapy or no treatment (control) for 3.5 years. Clinical outcomes included an increase in Child-Turcotte-Pugh score, ascites, spontaneous …