Changes in hepatitis C virus antigen in liver with antiviral therapy.
BACKGROUND
Although it has recently become possible to detect hepatitis C viral antigens in liver biopsy specimens, the frequency and clinical significance of this finding remains uncertain. Therefore, 49 liver biopsy specimens from 35 patients with hepatitis C were studied to make these assessments.


METHODS
Hepatitis C virus antigen was detected by immunofluorescence staining of snap-frozen liver biopsy sections.


RESULTS
Hepatitis C virus antigen was present in 86% of patients; the amount and pattern of hepatitis C virus antigen staining did not correlate with the degree of hepatic injury as assessed by serum aminotransferase levels or liver histology or with the level of viral replication assessed by the titer of HCV RNA in serum. Patients who had a beneficial response to antiviral therapy had significantly less hepatitis C virus antigen staining in pretreatment liver biopsy specimens than those who did not respond. The degree of hepatitis C virus antigen staining decreased significantly following interferon alfa therapy but not after ribavirin therapy. Hepatic hepatitis C virus antigen became undetectable after therapy in those patients who had a long-term beneficial response to therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatic hepatitis C virus staining may be useful in predicting and monitoring the response to antiviral therapy.
Di Bisceglie
A M
AM
Liver Diseases Section, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
Hoofnagle
J H
JH
Krawczynski
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014779:Virus Replication
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012254:Ribavirin; D000410:Alanine Transaminase