Usefulness of HCV-RNA assays in efficacy evaluation of interferon treatment for chronic hepatitis C: Amplicor HCV assay and branched DNA probe assay.
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.
Nomura
H
H
Department of Internal Medicine, Shin-Kokura Hospital, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Kimura
Y
Y
Rikimaru
N
N
Tada
H
H
Okamoto
O
O
Shiraishi
G
G
Kashiwagi
S
S
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*
D015342:DNA Probes; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral