Co-infection of SENV-D among chronic hepatitis C patients treated with combination therapy with high-dose interferon-alfa and ribavirin

Table 1 Comparison of clinical characteristics between individuals with and without SENV-D viremia in 164 CHC patients

	SENV-D viremia		P
	Positive (n = 61)	Negative (n = 103)
Sex (male) (%)	36 (59.0)	61 (59.2)	NS
Age (yr)	50.7 ± 10.6	46.6 ± 11.6	0.026
Serum ALT (IU/L)	144.0 ± 164.3	125.8 ± 164.2 )	NS
Normal ( ≤ 34 IU/L) (%)	8 (33.3)	16 (66.7)	NS
Abnormal (> 34 IU/L) (%)	53 (37.9)	87 (62.1)
HCV RNA levels (log IU/mL)	5.72 ± 0.70	5.85 ± 0.63	NS
HCV genotype 1b (%)	26 (42.6)	54 (52.4)	NS
Histology (HAI scores)	46	82
Peri-portal necrosis	1.11 ± 1.34	1.11 ± 1.35	NS
Intralobular necrosis	0.70 ± 1.00	0.41 ± 0.78	NS
Portal inflammation	1.80 ± 1.31	1.98 ± 1.21	NS
Total score (grading)	3.54 ± 2.65	3.49 ± 2.52	NS
Fibrosis	1.39 ± 1.50	1.16 ± 1.28	NS

Results are expressed as mean±SD. HAI: histological activity index, NS: no significance.

Table 2 Comparison of clinical and virological features between sustained viral responders (SVR) and non-responders (NR) of CHC patients after combination therapy

	HCV response		P
	NR (n = 51)	SVR (n = 105)
Sex (male) (%)	31 (60.8)	61 (58.1)	NS
Age (yr)	51.24 ± 11.3	46.4 ± 11.3	0.014
Serum ALT (IU/L)	122.2 ± 105.0	140.9 ± 189.9	NS
Normal ( ≤ 34 IU/L) (%)	4 (18.2)	18 (81.8)	NS
Abnormal (> 34 IU/L) (%)	47 (34.6)	87 (65.4)
HCV RNA levels (log IU/mL)	5.90 ± 0.62	5.73 ± 0.68	NS
High level (≥ 200 000 IU/mL) (%)	39 (39.4)	60 (60.6)	0.019
Low level (< 200 000 IU/mL) (%)	12 (21.1)	45 (78.9)
HCV genotype 1b (%)	44 (86.3)	32 (30.5)	<0.0001
Positive SENV-D DNA (%)	16 (31.4)	41 (39.0)	NS
Histology (HAI scores)
Patients no.	37	85
Peri-portal necrosis	1.08 ± 1.30	1.091 ± 1.323	NS
Intralobular necrosis	0.278 ± 0.61	0.64 ± 0.97	0.037
Portal inflammation	2.03 ± 1.17	1.89 ± 1.25	NS
Total score (grading)	3.32 ± 2.22	3.60 ± 2.59	NS
Fibrosis	1.41 ± 1.38	1.157 ± 1.31	NS

Results are expressed as mean±SD. HAI: histological activity index, NS: no significance.

Table 3 Stepwise logistic regression analysis of factors significantly associated with HCV sustained virologic response (SVR) after combination therapy in 156 CHC patients

Dependent variable	Independent variable	Comparison	OR (95%CI1)		P
HCV SVR
	HCV genotypes	1b = 0	12.098	(0.02 - 0.19)	< 0.001
		Non-1b = 1
	Age	Per year increased	0.936	(0.890 - 0.998)	0.011
	HCV RNA level	High ( 200 000 IU/mL) = 0	3.131	(1.080 - 9.077)	0.036
	Low (< 200 000 IU/mL) = 1

¹CI: Confidence interval.

Table 4 Comparison of clinical characteristics and virological features between 48 CHC patients with and without sustained clearance of SENV-D after combination therapy

	SENV-D response		P
	NR (n = 21)	SVR (n = 27)
Sex (male) (%)	15 (71.4)	13 (48.2)	NS
Age (yr)	48.3 ± 10.6	51.7 ± 10.3	NS
Serum ALT (IU/L)	157.6 ± 122.9	152.4 ± 216.3	NS
High HCV RNA level	9 (42.9)	18 (66.7)	NS
(≥ 200000 IU/mL) (%)
HCV genotype 1b (%)	7 (33.3)	12 (44.4)	NS
SENV-D ETVR (%)	13 (61.9)	24 (88.9)	0.04
HCV SVR (%)	17 (81.0)	18 (66.7)	NS

Results are expressed as mean±SD. ETVR: end-of-treatment viral response, SVR: sustained viral responder, NR: non-responders, NS: no significance.