title: Analysis of clinical and virological factors associated with response to alpha interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: Interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy is currently the treatment of choice for chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection, but it fails to achieve a sustained response in approximately 75% of those treated. The factors which determine whether or not an individual will respond to IFN-alpha are uncertain, although a number of potentially predictive factors have been proposed. In this study a wide range of clinical, demographic, and virological parameters were evaluated in relation to therapeutic outcome in a group of 30 Italian patients with chronic hepatitis C. All patients received 3 MU leukocyte-derived IFN-alpha three times a week for 6 months and were then followed prospectively for at least 12 months. 53% of patients responded initially, but a sustained response was observed in only 17%. Responders were found to be significantly younger than nonresponders (45.6 +/- 3.1 vs. 55.4 +/- 2.7), and less frequently cirrhotic (2/16 vs. 7/14). Sustained responders had a mean pretreatment HCV-RNA titer approximately tenfold lower than that of those who did not have a sustained response, but the difference was not statistically significant. HCV genotype was found to be significantly associated with both initial and sustained response. Patients infected with HCV-2a were more likely to respond (89%) than those who were infected with HCV-1b (37%), and they were also more likely to sustain that response (33% vs. 6%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University College London Medical School, UK.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Garson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brillanti
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Whitby
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deaville
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Masci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miglioli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barbara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000201:enzymology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase