Optimal Duration of Treatment for HCV Genotype 1 Infection in Slow Responders: A Meta-Analysis

Background: a head-to-head comparison of the 72-week and 48-week anti-hcv therapies in slow responders with genotype 1 infection has been performed in several randomized clinical trials (rcts).objectives: this review aimed at summarizing and pooling the results of these studies.materials and methods: rcts that had evaluated the 72-week vs. 48-week anti-hcv therapy (peginterferon and ribavirin) in slow responders with hcv genotype 1 infection were systematically identified. a meta-analysis was performed using the random effects model. heterogeneity in results was assessed on the basis of the q statistics, and publication bias was evaluated by using harbord's modified test. the end point was set as a sustained virological response (svr).results: data of 1206 subjects were retrieved from 7 studies. a total of 631 patients had received extended therapy. slow virological responders who received the 72-week therapy had a significantly higher probability of achieving svr than their counterparts who received the 48-week therapy [rr = 1.44 (95% ci, 1.20-1.73)]. with regard to publication biases, the heterogeneity in funnel plots was not significant (p = 0.19, i2 = 30%, pharbord = 0.1).conclusion: our meta-analysis showed that the 72-week therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin is significantly superior to the standard 48-week therapy in slow responders with hcv genotype 1 infection.