Retreatment with peginterferon and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients

Characteristics	Case 1	Case 2	Case 3	Case 4
Gender	Male	Male	Male	Male
Age (yr)	37	58	60	40
Body weight (kg)	80	69	63	84
Height (m)	1.75	1.69	1.65	1.84
Body mass index (kg/m2)	26.1	24.2	23.1	24.8
HCV genotype	1b	1b	1b	2a/2c
HCV infection route	Intravenous drug abuse	Sexual intercourse	Sexual intercourse	Sexual intercourse
Serum HCV RNA level at baseline (IU/mL)	585026	3420000	7710000	113000
Antiviral therapy regimen	Peginterferon α-2a and ribavirin for 48 wk	Peginterferon α-2b and ribavirin for 48 wk	Peginterferon α-2b and ribavirin for 48 wk	Peginterferon α-2b and ribavirin for 48 wk
	↓	↓	↓	↓
	Peginterferon α-2b and ribavirin for 12 wk	Peginterferon α-2b and ribavirin for 12 wk	Peginterferon α-2b and ribavirin for 12 wk	Peginterferon α-2a and ribavirin for 12 wk

HCV: Hepatitis C virus.

Table 2 Changes in hepatitis C virus RNA level (IU/mL)

Weeks of treatment	Previous treatment					Retreatment
	0	12	24	48	0	12	36
Case 1	585026	< 50	Negative	Negative	13367	< 50 (complete EVR)	Negative (SVR)
Case 2	3420000	63	Negative	Negative	536	< 50 (complete EVR)	Negative (SVR)
Case 3	7710000	226	Negative	Negative	Positive1	< 50 (complete EVR)	Negative (SVR)
Case 4	113000	< 50	Positive	N/A	155	< 50 (complete EVR)	Negative (SVR)

¹Positive of hepatitis C virus RNA was determined by qualitative PCR. EVR: Early virologic response; SVR: Sustained virologic response.