Table 3.
Univariate analysis of predictors associated with biochemical and virological sustained responders to interferon (IFN) and ribavirin retreatment
| Complete sustained responders (n = 88) | All others (n=471) | p Value | |
| Men (No (%)) | 55 (62.5) | 314 (66.6) | 0.44 |
| Mean age (y) | 43.5 (12.1) | 46.5 (10.6) | 0.019 |
| Mean PLT (103/mm3) | 172.1 (56) | 173.4 (55.2) | 0.85 |
| Mean ALT (ULN) | 3.0 (2.1) | 3.1 (2.1) | 0.68 |
| Mean γ-glutamyltransferase (ULN) | 1.2 (1.3) | 1.7 (1.5) | 0.01 |
| HCV genotype (No (%)) | 0.38 | ||
| Type 1 | 43 (48.8) | 254 (53.9) | |
| Other than type 1 | 45 (51.1) | 217 (46.0) | |
| Serum HCV-RNA (No (%))* | 0.79 | ||
| <2×106 copies/ml | 55 (82) | 281 (83.3) | |
| ≥2×106 copies/ml | 12 (18) | 56 (16.6) | |
| Liver biopsy (No (%)) | 0.061 | ||
| Chronic hepatitis (Metavir F1 to F3) | |||
| Metavir A1-A2 | 31 (35.2) | 217 (46) | |
| Metavir A3-A4 | 49 (55.6) | 198 (42) | |
| Cirrhosis (Metavir F4) | 8 (9.0) | 56 (11.8) | |
| Second IFN course (No (%)) | 0.0037 | ||
| Total dose <432 MU | 14 (15.9) | 149 (31.6) | |
| Total dose ≥432 MU | 74 (84.1) | 322 (68.3) | |
| 1st→2nd IFN course | 0.26 | ||
| Standard→medium/high (No (%)) | |||
| No | 33 (37.5) | 207 (43.9) | |
| Yes | 55 (62.5) | 264 (56) |
Values are mean (SD) or No (%).
*Assessed in 409 patients.
PLT, platelets; ULN, upper limit of normal; ALT, alanine transaminase; HCV, hepatitis C virus; IFN, α interferon; MU, mega units.