title: Hepatitis C virus markers in patients with long-term biochemical and histological remission of chronic hepatitis.
abstract: We measured hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and antibodies against HCV recombinant proteins (C22/S1, E1/S2, E2/NS1, C33/NS3, C100/NS4, NS5) in serial serum samples from 22 interferon-treated patients with a long-term follow up (range: 36-44 months). Eleven of them showed persistently normal liver function tests and a significant histological amelioration or a complete resolution of chronic hepatitis (long-term responders, LTRs). In the remaining 11 patients (non-responders (NRs)) liver function tests normalized temporarily during therapy or remained unchanged. At the end of the follow up (3 years), viraemia was undetectable in six of 11 LTRs (54.6%). HCV-RNA was always detectable in the serum of NRs (p = 0.017). At admission, anti-C22/S1, anti-E1/S2, anti-E2/NS1, anti-C33/NS3, anti-C100/NS4 and anti-NS5 were detected in 95.4%, 40.9%, 77.3%, 95.4%, 72.7% and 77.3% of the patients, respectively. Three years after suspension of therapy, anti-C100/NS4 was undetectable in five of six (83.3%) LTRs who cleared HCV-RNA and in only one with ongoing viraemia (20%). Anti-E2/NS1 was undetectable in 54.5% of LTRs and in no NRs (p = 0.067). Anti-E1/S2 was detected more frequently in LTRs than in NRs (81.8% vs 45.5%). Serum levels of anti-C22/S1, C33/NS3 and NS5 did not change during therapy and the follow up in either group of patients. The clearance of viraemia in LTRs was associated with that of anti-C100/NS4 (p = 0.017). Serum HCV-RNA and anti-C100/NS4 appear suitable tools for monitoring patients who respond to therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Molinette Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saracco
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Abate
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baldi
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manzini
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Brunetto
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oliveri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Houghton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014766:Viremia / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C499352:core protein p22, Hepatitis C virus; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus