Antiviral effect of ribavirin in early non-responders to interferon monotherapy assessed by kinetics of hepatitis C virus RNA and hepatitis C virus core antigen

Background/Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of ribavirin, given in second intention in non-responders to interferon alone, by studying viral kinetics. Methods: We conducted a trial including 203 patients with chronic hepatitis C, naïve of treatment. Patients were treated with interferon three times a week with or without ribavirin and amantadine according to response. Viral kinetics were assessed by serial measurements of HCV RNA (bDNA 3.0 and Monitor 2.0) and a new assay, trak-C, able to quantify total Hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen. Results: A significant initial drop in HCV RNA or HCV core antigen, under interferon alone, was associated with response to therapy, −4.85±1.33 log for HCV RNA in sustained responders versus −1.86±1.53 log for others groups, P<0.001. In patients receiving ribavirin in second intention, we also observed a similar drop in HCV RNA and HCV core antigen, predictive of sustained response, −2.67±1.26 log for HCV RNA in sustained responders versus −0.44±0.49 log in non-responders, P<0.001. Conclusions: Ribavirin has probably an additional antiviral effect in interferon treated patients. Kinetics of HCV RNA and HCV core antigen under treatment are highly predictive of a sustained virological response.