Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infections during and after therapy with alpha interferon.
In 24 patients with hepatitic C virus (HCV) infection who participated in a randomized trial with alpha 2B interferon, HCV RNA analysis by the polymerase chain reaction with two separate primer sets was performed at weeks 0, 4, and 24 and during a follow-up period of 6 to 9 months. Prior to therapy all patients were HCV RNA positive. During therapy, HCV RNA decreased to an undetectable level (< 1 chimpanzee infectious dose per ml) in nine patients at week 4. After week 4, no additional cases of HCV RNA disappearance (< 1 chimpanzee infectious dose per ml) were observed. During follow-up, HCV RNA could not be detected in four of the six patients with a sustained alanine aminotransferase response. These results suggest the probable predictive value of HCV RNA levels for detecting the failure of therapy in an early stage of HCV infection.
Department of Virology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
G E
GE
Kleter
J T
JT
Brouwer
R A
RA
Heijtink
S W
SW
Schalm
W G
WG
Quint
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D007370:Interferon Type I; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins