title: Quantification and genotyping of serum HCV-RNA in patients with chronic hepatitis C undergoing interferon treatment.
abstract: Quantification of serum HCV-RNA and HCV genotyping was studied in 27 patients with chronic hepatitis C undergoing interferon treatment. Pretreatment serum HCV-RNA levels were quantified using competitive RT-PCR and compared to a quantitative RT-PCR assay based on co-amplification of HCV-RNA with a synthetic RNA standard. HCV genotyping was performed using a line probe reversed hybridisation assay or direct solid-phase sequencing. This study shows the feasibility of performing HCV-RNA quantification. RT-PCR based on co-amplification HCV-RNA titer less than 6 x 10(4) genome equivalents/ml serum did correlate with a complete sustained response to alpha interferon in chronic hepatitis C. HCV genotype 1b was alpha predominantly associated with a high non-responder rate. Future prospective trials will be required to evaluate quantitative HCV-RNA levels and HCV genotyping as response predicting parameters for interferon-treatment.
authors.affiliation: I. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Johannes Gutenberg Universität, Mainz, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerken
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Knolle
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jakobs
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Meyer zum Büschenfelde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins