Is P2/MS A New Pretreatment Predictor for eRVR and SVR in the Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Treated with Telaprevir Triple Therapy: A Retrospective Observational Study

Abstract

AIM: Extended rapid virologic response (eRVR) predicts sustained virologic response (SVR) and provides to determine shortening response guided treatment duration. P2/MS<45, an effective and noninvasive marker reflecting the degree of hepatic fibrosis, demonstrates serious hepatic fibrosis. In a retrospective observational study, we studied the relationship between P2/MS and eRVR among HCV genotype 1 (G1) infected patients who were treated with triple therapy patients. P2/MS was evaluated whether it is a predictor for treatment response by foreseeing eRVR. METHOD: Thirty one patients infected with HCV-G1and were treated with triple therapy involving telaprevir, pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin, were enrolled in the study. P2/MS values were calculated before the treatment. HCV-RNA levels were measured at the initiation period, the 4 th and 12 th weeks. RESULTS: Nine patients of 31 had detectable HCV-RNA in the 4 th week. Among 6 of these 9 patients had P2/MS<45. HCV-RNA was undetectable in 22 patients at the 4 th week of the treatment. Sixteen of them had P2/MS>45. Among 30 of 31 patients, HCV-RNA was undetectable at the 12 th week of the treatment. We found that eRVR success was 85% in patients with P2/MS score>45 and 45.4% in patients with P2/MS<45. CONCLUSION: P2/MS is a noninvasive marker for detecting hepatic fibrosis in HCV patients. A positive correlation between P2/ MS score and eRVR is demonstrated. We suggest that P2/MS should be used as a pretreatment predictive marker for HCV-G1 infected patients, estimating SVR and the patients suitable for shortening therapy.