Immunoglobulin M antibody to hepatitis C virus during interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
Testing for immunoglobulin (Ig) M antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) as a predictive factor of therapeutic response to recombinant interferon alfa (rIFN-alpha) in chronic hepatitis C was evaluated in 122 patients with IgG anti-HCV. IgM anti-HCV was present in the pretreatment sample of 88% of patients who responded to treatment, including 20 of 21 (95%) long-term responders and 24 of 29 (83%) responders who had relapses after cessation of therapy. In contrast, IgM anti-HCV was present in only 23 of 39 (59%) nonresponders and 22 of 33 (66%) untreated controls (P less than 0.05). The number of cases with detectable IgM anti-HCV tended to decrease in responder patients, which was more evident for complete responders (42%) than for responders who relapsed (72%). During follow-up, the antibody became undetectable in the majority of long-term responders (28% were still IgM anti-HCV positive) but remained detectable in 69% of responders who relapsed (P less than 0.05). No special changes were noted in nonresponder or control patients. Thus, testing for IgM anti-HCV may help to identify a subset of patients who will benefit from rIFN-alpha therapy in chronic hepatitis C.
Quiroga
J A
JA
Department of Gastroenterology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
Bosch
O
O
Gonzalez
R
R
Marriott
E
E
Castillo
I
I
Bartolome
J
J
Carreño
V
V
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins