Changes in serum levels of hepatitis C virus genotype 1b monitored by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction as a predictor of long term response to interferon-alpha treatment.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to find whether there is a relationship between the changes in the amounts of hepatitis C virus (HCV) at the start of interferon treatment and the long term response to therapy.


METHODS
In 20 patients with HCV genotype 1b each given 880 MU of interferon-alpha, the changes in serum HCV RNA during the first 2 wk of therapy were monitored by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR).


RESULTS
Real-time quantitative PCR detected HCV RNA at 10(1)-10(8) copies/ml. Serum HCV RNA decreased rapidly between 8 and 24 h after the first administration (first phase) and more slowly thereafter (second phase), with median exponential decays of 2.14 and 0.11 log10/day, respectively. Four patients had sustained virological responses, nine patients had transient responses, and seven patients had no responses. The differences in the rate of first-phase viral decline among the three groups were not significant (p = 0.34), but the differences in the rate of second-phase viral decline were significant (p = 0.0004); the median viral decline (interquartile range) in the second phase was 0.48 (0.42-0.50) log10/day in patients with sustained responses, 0.16 (0.10-0.19) log10/day in patients with transient responses, and 0.026 (0.017-0.040) log10/day in patients with no responses.


CONCLUSIONS
Changes in serum levels of HCV genotype 1b in the first 2 wk of interferon-alpha treatment, monitored by real-time quantitative PCR, can be used for prediction of the long term therapeutic response.
Enomoto
Masaru
M
Third Department of Internal Medicine and Second Department of Biochemistry, Osaka City University Medical School, Japan.
Nishiguchi
Shuhei
S
Shiomi
Susumu
S
Tanaka
Motoharu
M
Yokogawa
Tadashi
T
Fukuda
Katsuhiko
K
Ueda
Tadashi
T
Tamori
Akihiro
A
Habu
Daiki
D
Takeda
Tadashi
T
Yano
Yoshihisa
Y
Otani
Shuzo
S
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011336:Probability; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral