Liver decompensation predicts ribavirin overexposure in hepatitis C virus patients treated with direct-acting antivirals

Table 2 Ribavirin dosages and plasma levels (C_trough) and haemoglobin loss over the course of treatment

Parameters	Overall (n = 68)	Child pugh A (n = 54)	Child pugh B (n = 14)	P value
RBV (mg/kg pre die), mean ± SD	14.4 ± 1.7	14.4 ± 1.36	14.9 ± 1.6	0.3
1RBV week 1 (ng/L) median (IQR)	9105 (6130-1310)	8750 (5700-11680)	14050 (9010-22280)	0.007
1RBV week 2 (ng/L) median (IQR)	15000 (11600-27680)	14150 (11150-20000)	23550 (17200-28930)	0.001
2RBV week 4 (ng/L) median (IQR)	18300 (12900-27680 )	17850 (12200-26500)	26250 (17700-35130)	0.024
3RBV week 8 (ng/L) median (IQR)	23100 (17050-31000)	21500 (16100-27950)	33000 (19800-41380)	0.0034
Mean RBV 1, 2, 4 wk, (ng/L) median (IQR)	14240 (10770-19450)	13280 (10480-18200)	19600 (14670-26870)	0.005
Mean RBV 1, 2, 4, 8 wk, (ng/L) median (IQR)	16490 (12220-21750)	15135 (11850-19830)	21700 (15090-29280)	0.006
Mean RBV, full treatment duration (ng/L), mean ± SD	18079 ± 6609	17528 ± 6020	20327 ± 7700	0.2
RBV dosage reduction, n (%)	37 (54.4)	27 (50)	10 (71.4)	0.2
Weeks before reduction, median (IQR)	6.1 (4-9.8)	5 (4-9.7)	7 (4-10)	0.6
Hb loss week 4 (g/L), mean ± SD	19.6 ± 1.8	19 ± 13	21 ± 32	0.54
Hb loss week 8 (g/L), mean ± SD	21 ± 19	20 ± 13	25 ± 35	0.34

¹Data for 68 subjects;

²Data for 62 subjects;

³Data for 95 subjects;

⁴Analysis of covariance of Hb at week 4 and haemoglobin (Hb) at week 8, adjusted for baseline Hb levels. RBV: Ribavirin; Hb: Haemoglobin; IQR: Interquartile range.