Rapid clearance of hepatitis C virus RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with clotting disorders and chronic hepatitis C treated with alpha-2b interferon is not a predictor for sustained response to treatment.
Thirteen patients with congenital coagulation disorders and chronic hepatitis C were treated with alpha-interferon (IFN). Serum transaminases (ALT) and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were followed during and after treatment. During IFN treatment ALT levels normalized in 8/13 patients. In all patients HCV-RNA disappeared from PBMC. In 9/13 HCV-RNA also became undetectable from plasma; in six of these nine this occurred earlier in PBMC than in plasma; in the remaining three the disappearance of HCV-RNA occurred simultaneously in plasma and PBMC. All but two patients relapsed within 3 weeks after cessation of IFN, one relapsed after 6 weeks and one patient remains in remission after 6 months. HCV-RNA reappeared either earlier in plasma (3/12) or simultaneously in plasma and PBMC (9/12). Viral replication in PBMC thus can easily be suppressed by IFN, whereas longer treatment is needed for the eradication of HCV-RNA in plasma. The detection of HCV-RNA in PBMC cannot be used as a prognostic marker for the identification of patients with chronic hepatitis C who will have a sustained response to IFN treatment.
Peerlinck
K
K
Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
Willems
M
M
Sheng
L
L
Nevens
F
F
Fevery
J
J
Yap
S H
SH
Vermylen
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000201:enzymology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000637:Transaminases