[HCV].
HCV is an RNA-virus which contains a positive-strand RNA genome. The RT-PCR method is used to detect the HCV-RNA in plasma. Quantification of HCV-RNA is difficult, but it can now be done by a competitive RT-PCR method developed recently. Genotypes of HCV can be classified into at least six basic groups, genotype I-IV can be distinguished by RT-PCR with type-specific primers. We report here that the prevalence of type-I, II, III, IV, and mixed type (II + IV) are 1.0%, 90.3%, 3.2%, 3.2%, and 2.2%, respectively. The DNA-probe method was recently developed and is less sensitive than the RT-PCR method, but simple and handy to detect HCV-RNA. Patients with chronic active hepatitis C received 3MU (9MU) of natural-interferon alpha (recombinant-interferon alpha 2a) daily for two weeks followed by three times a week for 22 weeks. Although the relationship between genotype of HCV and response to interferon-alpha therapy is unclear, the titer of HCV-RNA was significantly lower in long-term responders (ALT level remained within the normal range during the 12 weeks after the end of therapy) and short-term responders (ALT level rose again during the 12 weeks after the end of therapy) than that in nonresponders (ALT level was not normalized in spite of interferon-alpha therapy).
Tsujii
H
H
Department of Clinico-Laboratory Diagnostics, Nara Medical University, Kashihara.
Yoshikawa
M
M
Nakano
H
H
D000328:Adult; D015342:DNA Probes; D005260:Female; D005814:Genes, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D015342:DNA Probes; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins