Short and long-term effects of interferon on serum markers of hepatitis C virus replication.
Hepatitis C virus RNA (HCV-RNA) and serological markers of HCV infection were measured in 30 patients with chronic hepatitis C who had been treated with interferon (IFN). Patients were classified into four groups according to serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels after treatment. These were: as complete responders (CR); partial responders (PR); transient responders (TR); and non-responders (NR). In all 11 patients in the CR group, HCV-RNA disappeared from serum for at least 24 months and anti-c100-3 decreased progressively during this time. In the PR group, four of five patients were positive for HCV-RNA in spite of the improvement of ALT levels and decline of anti-c100-3. In the TR and NR groups, HCV-RNA disappeared transiently or remained persistently positive. The results indicate that IFN-mediated improvement of ALT and decrease of anti-HCV (anti-c100-3) were not always related to the disappearance of HCV-RNA from serum. On the other hand, sustained disappearance of HCV-RNA from serum was demonstrated in the patients who did not have post-treatment ALT relapse. This indicates that IFN can eradicate HCV from serum in some patients and provide a clinical remission of chronic hepatitis C.
Department of Clinical Research, Nagasaki Chuo National Hospital, Japan.
H
H
Yatsuhashi
O
O
Inoue
K
K
Inokuchi
M
M
Koga
S
S
Nagataki
T A
TA
Cha
B
B
Irvine
M
M
Stempien
J
J
Kolberg
M S
MS
Urdea
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013997:Time Factors; D014779:Virus Replication
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; C078224:anti-C100-3; D000410:Alanine Transaminase