BACKGROUND & AIMS:

Compared with Caucasian Americans (CA), African Americans (AA) with chronic hepatitis C are less likely to respond to interferon-based antiviral therapy.

METHODS:

In a multicenter treatment trial, 196 AA and 205 CA treatment-naive patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection were treated with peginterferon alfa-2a (180 microg/wk) and ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day) for up to 48 weeks. The primary end point was sustained virologic response (SVR).

RESULTS:

Baseline features were similar among AA and CA, including HCV-RNA levels and histologic severity, but AA had higher body weights, a higher prevalence of diabetes and hypertension, and lower alanine transaminase levels (P < .001 for all). The SVR rate was 28% in AA and 52% in CA (P < .0001). Racial differences in viral responses were evident as early as treatment week 4. Breakthrough viremia was more frequent among AA than CA (13% vs 6%, P = .05); relapse rates were comparable (32% vs 25%, P = .30). Proportions of patients with serious adverse events and dose modifications and discontinuations were similar among AA and CA. In multiple regression analyses, CA had a higher SVR rate than AA (relative risk, 1.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.48-2.60; P < .0001). Other factors independently associated with higher SVR included female sex, lower baseline HCV-RNA level, less hepatic fibrosis, and more peginterferon taken.

CONCLUSIONS:

AA with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 have lower rates of virologic response to peginterferon and ribavirin than CA. These differences are not explained by disease characteristics, baseline viral levels, or amount of medication taken.