title: Genotype does not affect pattern of HCV RNA decrease among responders during interferon treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Consensus Interferon Study Group.
abstract: We assessed differences in the pattern of HCV RNA decrease for HCV genotypes 1, 2, and 3 during interferon treatment to determine if the lower response rates observed among genotype 1 patients were related to a slower decrease in HCV clearance. Serum HCV RNA values of 472 chronic hepatitis C patients treated with either consensus interferon (CIFN) or interferon alfa-2b (IFN alfa-2b) were evaluated. Neither virological sustained responders nor relapsers differed in the pattern of serum HCV RNA decrease based on genotype. Virological sustained responders infected with genotype 1 cleared HCV RNA as rapidly as sustained responders who were infected with genotype 2 or 3. Relapsers had a slower rate of serum HCV RNA decrease than did virological sustained responders. Nonresponders differed in the pattern of serum HCV RNA decrease based on genotype: HCV genotype 3 patients had the greatest decrease in serum HCV RNA; genotype 2 patients had an intermediate decrease; and genotype 1 patients had the least serum HCV RNA decrease. HCV genotype 1 patients treated with CIFN had a greater decrease in serum HCV RNA during therapy than did patients treated with IFN alfa-2b. However, there was no difference in the magnitude of serum HCV RNA decrease between the two interferon treatments for patients infected with genotype 2 or 3. In summary, both genotype and ultimate response to treatment are determinants of the pattern and rate of serum HCV RNA change during interferon therapy of chronic hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1509, USA. ekeeffe@stanford.edu
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Keeffe
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Dusheiko
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Hollinger
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Heathcote
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McHutchison
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Albert
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007370:Interferon Type I; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C050739:interferon alfacon-1