"Rebound" phenomenon of hepatitis C viremia after interferon therapy in "relapsed" patients with chronic hepatitis C.
The correlation between serum hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA and aminotransferase levels following completion of interferon therapy was evaluated in eight relapsed patients with chronic hepatitis C. Both HCV-RNA and aminotransferase levels were significantly increased in the relapsed patients 1 month after completion of therapy, compared to pretreatment values, despite aminotransferase levels being normal and HCV-RNA being undetectable by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay at the end of therapy. The serum levels of HCV-RNA and aminotransferase were significantly elevated 1 and 2 months post-treatment. They then decreased to pretreatment values 3-5 months after the completion of therapy. Thus, in relapsed patients after the completion of therapy, the changes in HCV-RNA levels preceded the elevation in aminotransferase levels. These findings suggest a correlation between serum HCV-RNA levels and aminotransferase levels in relapsed patients with chronic hepatitis C after the completion of interferon therapy.
Hanada
H
H
First Department of Internal Medicine, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Japan.
Hino
K
K
Fujii
K
K
Okazaki
M
M
Okita
K
K
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012008:Recurrence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D000637:Transaminases / Q000378:metabolism*; D014766:Viremia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
D012367:RNA, Viral; D007372:Interferons; D000637:Transaminases