Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 14, 2013; 19(34): 5754-5758
Published online Sep 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i34.5754
Extended therapy duration for therapy-refractory hepatitis C patients with genotype 2
Ken Sato, Masatoshi Yanagisawa, Hiroaki Hashizume, Yuichi Yamazaki, Norio Horiguchi, Satoru Kakizaki, Masatomo Mori
Ken Sato, Masatoshi Yanagisawa, Hiroaki Hashizume, Yuichi Yamazaki, Norio Horiguchi, Satoru Kakizaki, Masatomo Mori, Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
Author contributions: Sato K designed the research, wrote the paper, and analyzed the data; Yanagisawa M collected the data; Hashizume H, Yamazaki Y, Horiguchi N and Kakizaki S analyzed the data; Mori M gave final approval of the version to be published.
Supported by Grants from Merck Sharp & Dohme, Tokyo, Japan; and Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan to Mori M
Correspondence to: Ken Sato, MD, PhD, Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan. satoken@showa.gunma-u.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-272-208127 Fax: +81-272-208137
Received: April 30, 2013
Revised: June 30, 2013
Accepted: July 4, 2013
Published online: September 14, 2013
Processing time: 136 Days and 18.3 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: The optimal therapy for 48-wk peginterferon-α-2b/ribavirin therapy-intractable hepatitis C patients with genotype 2 and high viral loads remains unknown. Our cases are notable in that 72-wk peginterferon-α-2a/ribavirin therapy may have been effective for these highly intractable cases. Additionally, the rebound phenomenon of serum transaminase after the 48-wk peginterferon-α-2b/ribavirin therapy and the resultant lower viral load compared to that before the 48-wk peginterferon-α-2b/ribavirin therapy might have influenced the treatment outcome. Thus, our cases highlight the importance of the results of the previous 48-wk peginterferon-α-2b/ribavirin therapy in the indication and timing of the administration of 72-wk peginterferon-α-2a/ribavirin in highly intractable cases.