Serum intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and long-term response to IFN-alpha2b therapy in chronic hepatitis C.
We have attempted to correlate the outcome of interferon (IFN) therapy with circulating soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and the level of viremia in a sample of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Forty-two patients were studied. Eighteen patients were maintained in long-term remission following IFN therapy, whereas 24 did not respond or relapsed. Serum concentrations of sICAM-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Viremia was measured by branched DNA signal amplification assay. Basal sICAM-1 was significantly higher in long-term responders than in nonresponder/relapsing patients. It was found that very high levels (>1000 ng/ml) were closely associated with long-term clinical response. A quantitative evaluation of viremia in basal conditions, which was significantly lower in long-term responders, gave completely opposite results. During treatment, sICAM-1 concentrations significantly decreased in the group of long-term responders but not in the nonresponders. sICAM-1 reduction was apparent as early as 1 month after treatment started. Serum sICAM-1 may be a useful parameter in evaluating the outcome of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection treated with IFN.
Bagnasco
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy. Allerlab@csito.unige.it
Riccio
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AM
Sinelli
N
N
Campo
N
N
Battifora
M
M
Canonica
G W
GW
Picciotto
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D012995:Solubility; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014766:Viremia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1