Host and viral characteristics affecting the response to interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis C.
OBJECTIVE
To define parameters determined before and after 4 weeks of interferon therapy (3 MU three times per week for 24 weeks) which could be reliable predictors of a response to therapy.


METHODS
Thirty-four patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were investigated prospectively.


METHODS
A complete response was defined as the normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase levels (ALT) at the end of treatment. The genotype of HCV was determined and the level of HCV-RNA was quantitated both before and after 4 weeks of treatment.


RESULTS
After 4 weeks, 16 out of 20 responders [95% confidence interval (CI) 54-94%] and two out of 14 non-responders (95% CI 2-44%) normalized their ALT levels (P = 0.0002). The prevalence of genotype 1b was significantly (P < 0.04) higher among non-responders (eight out of 10; 95% CI 44-92%) than in responders (four out of 18; 95% CI 4-40%). Before treatment, the viraemia determined by branched DNA was significantly lower in responders than in non-responders (46.4 versus 116 x 10(5) eq virus/ml). After 4 weeks of treatment, the level of viraemia in responders was still significantly lower than that in non-responders (22.8 versus 66 x 10(5) eq virus/ml). In responders, a significant decrease in the level of viraemia was observed after 4 weeks of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
In a stepwise regression analysis only age and the normalization of ALT levels after 4 weeks of treatment were predictive of response to interferon at the end of treatment.
Laurent-Puig
P
P
Department of Gastroenterology, Bicetre Hospital, Le Kremlin Bicetre, France.
Dussaix
E
E
Altman
C
C
Laval
C
C
Stuyver
L
L
Wilber
J C
JC
Babany
G
G
Chopineau
S
S
Bedossa
P
P
Brocheriou
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000201:enzymology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D012367:RNA, Viral; D007372:Interferons; D000410:Alanine Transaminase