title: Usefulness of HCV-RNA assays in efficacy evaluation of interferon treatment for chronic hepatitis C: Amplicor HCV assay and branched DNA probe assay.
abstract: We investigated the usefulness of Amplicor HCV assay and branched DNA probe assay in efficacy evaluation of interferon therapies for chronic hepatitis C. Subjects were 164 HCV-RNA positive chronic hepatitis C patients who received interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha, HLBI) 3-6 MU per day for 14-24 weeks. Their HCV-RNA levels were examined five times by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay, Amplicor HCV assay, and branched DNA probe assay. Complete response rate in the low virus level patients was significantly higher than in the high virus level patients (P < 0.001). In complete responders, the rate of HCV-RNA disappearance 2 weeks after the initiation of IFN therapy was higher than in non-responders (P < 0.001). The HCV-RNA positive rates in RT-PCR assay and Amplicor HCV assay agreed by 98% or more. The HCV-RNA negative patients 6 months later were still negative 12 months later by Amplicor HCV assay. Before starting interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C, it is advisable to make a prediction of treatment efficacy by using branched DNA probe assay. In addition, disappearance of HCV-RNA after 2 weeks of treatment could be a useful predictor of the therapeutic efficacy of IFN. Amplicor HCV assay is useful in detecting HCV-RNA and for efficacy evaluation during and after a given interferon therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Shin-Kokura Hospital, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rikimaru
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shiraishi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kashiwagi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015342:DNA Probes; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral