title: Isolated anti-HBc in chronic hepatitis C predicts a poor response to interferon treatment.
abstract: The sustained response to interferon-alpha treatment was evaluated in 147 anti-HCV/HCV-RNA-positive, HBsAg-negative, chronic hepatitis patients, according to HCV genotypes and the presence or absence of anti-HBs and anti-HBc. These patients had been included in a controlled study on the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of three types of interferon-alpha given at a dose of 3 MU three times weekly for 52 weeks. One hundred and two patients had HCV genotype 1, 42 a non-1 HCV genotype and 3 multiple HCV genotypes; 46 were anti-HBs and anti-HBc negative (group A), 50 anti-HBs and anti-HBc positive (group B), and 51 anti-HBs negative and anti-HBc positive ("isolated" anti-HBc, group C). Serum HBV-DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction in 15 of the 51 (29.4%) patients in group C and in none of those in groups A or B. The Sustained Response rate was higher in patients with a non-1 HCV genotype than those with HCV genotype 1 (31% vs. 17.7%, P > 0.1). Fewer patients in group C showed a sustained response than in group A or group B (7.8% vs. 30.4%, P = 0.009 and 7.8% vs 28%, P = 0.017, respectively). Moreover, the sustained response rate was high in patients with a non-1 genotype, both in group A (42.8%) and in group B (42.8%), intermediate in patients with HCV genotype 1 (23.3% in group A and 22.2% in group B) and low in group C, irrespective of HCV genotype (8.3% for genotype 1 and 7.1% for other genotypes). The data indicate that patients with HCV chronic hepatitis and isolated anti-HBc show a poor response to IFN-alpha, irrespective of the HCV genotype.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy. evangelista.sagnelli@unin2.it
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sagnelli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scolastico
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mogavero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stanzione
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Filippini
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Felaco
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piccinino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins