Detection of low HCV viremia by repeated HCV RNA testing predicts treatment failure to triple therapy with telaprevir

Backgrounds/Aims: Early on-treatment virological response is one of the most important predictor for sustained virological response (SVR) to treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection with triple therapy including HCV protease inhibitors (PI). Treatment duration (24 vs. 48 weeks) is based on HCV RNA results at weeks 4 and 12 of PI therapy when HCV RNA must be “undetectable” to allow shorter therapy. We aimed to analyze the reliability of HCV RNA measurements at these decision time points as well as the predictive value of concordant or discordant assay results for SVR. Methods: Week 4 and…