Hepatitis C virus RNA and anti-N14 antibody levels during interferon alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
To investigate the markers useful for evaluating the long-term efficacy of interferon (IFN) therapy, the quantity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and two anti-HCV antibody titers (anti-N14 and anti-C-100-3 antibody) in 21 chronic hepatitis C patients were determined. In all complete responders, a sustained clearance of the virus and reductions in the anti-HCV antibody titers were observed during and after therapy. In most of the temporary responders, reductions in the HCV RNA levels and in both anti-HCV antibody titers were observed temporarily during the therapy, and relapse followed. In nonresponders, although the HCV RNA levels and anti-N14 antibody titer tended to remain unchanged or increased during and after therapy, the anti-C-100-3 antibody titers showed no tendency. These results demonstrate that the monitoring of the HCV RNA level and anti-N14 antibody titer is clinically useful for following the patient's response to IFN therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
Oketani
M
M
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University.
Tanaka
K
K
Sho
Y
Y
Maeda
E
E
Miyazaki
H
H
Arima
T
T
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D000956:Antigens, Viral; C064544:C100 protein, hepatitis C virus; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D007370:Interferon Type I; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins