Sustained virologic response to standard interferon or pegylated interferon and ribavirin in patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 5: systematic review and meta-analysis of ten studies and 423 patients

Interferon (IFN)-free therapy has vastly improved therapeutic options for those with hepatitis C virus infection (HCV). However, the lack of data and the expense limit its use for lesser known genotypes such as HCV-5, especially in countries with financial limitations. Previous reports estimate sustained virologic response (SVR) rates in HCV-5 to be similar to 40-70 %. Our goal was to estimate pooled SVR rates for HCV-5 treatment-na < ve patients treated with IFN or peginterferon (PEG IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy for 48 weeks. We conducted a literature search to identify articles with HCV-5 patients treated with IFN/PEG IFN + RBV. Pooled SVR rates were reported by random effects modeling with 95 % confidence intervals. Heterogeneity was defined by the Cochrane Q-statistic p a parts per thousand currency sign 0.05 and I (2) statistic a parts per thousand yen50 %. A total of 423 patients from ten studies were included in the analysis. The pooled SVR rate for HCV-5 patients treated with IFN/PEG IFN + RBV for 48 weeks was 58.0 % (CI 53.1 %-62.7 %). There was no evidence of heterogeneity (I (2) = 0, p = 0.61) or publication bias (Egger's test = 0.26). Pooled analysis of HCV-5 patients treated with PEG IFN + RBV was 55.0 % (CI 49.4-61.5 %). There was no evidence of heterogeneity (I (2) = 0.00, p = 0.75) or publication bias (Egger's test = 0.71). Combination therapy with IFN/PEG IFN + RBV had a pooled EVR of 90.2 % (CI 76.8-96.2 %). SVR for HCV-5 treated with combination therapy (IFN/PEG-IFN + RBV for 48 weeks) was approximately 60 %. Current data are insufficient to evaluate variable duration of treatment (24 vs. 48 weeks), presence or absence of cirrhosis, effects of high versus low viral loads, or degree of fibrosis. The optimal treatment duration for HCV-5 patients with IFN-based combination remains to be established. Data and drug access are needed for treatment for HCV-5 in more resource-limited areas.