Optimal Erythrocyte Ribavirin Level to Reduce the Risk of Anemia and Obtain an Early Virological Response in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Caused by Genotype 1b Infection

Abstract EN

Aims.

To determine whether the erythrocyte phosphorylated ribavirin (RBV) level might be a useful index of EVR and risk of anemia and to determine the optimal dose of RBV in 24 patients with hepatitis C with pegylated interferon and RBV.

Methodology.

The RBV level was measured by a high-performance liquid chromatography.

Results and Conclusion.

In patients aged 50 years or over, a negative correlation (r=-0.548, P<.05) was observed between the RBV level at week 2 and rate of Hb reduction (ΔHb) at week 4.

The ΔHb at week 4 was significantly greater in patients with RBV levels of ≥800 μM (-25.5±10.1%) than in patients with RBV levels <800 μM (-15.6±7.7%).

None of the patients with RBV levels <600 μM at week 2 achieved EVR and SVR.

Thus the optimal levels of erythrocyte phosphorylated RBV at week 2 of therapy in order to achieve EVR without anemia seemed to be 600–800 μM.