Factors predictive of response to interferon-alpha therapy in hepatitis C virus type 1b infection.
Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has been used to treat hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-induced infection but has been effective in only about half of all patients. It is suggested that the different responses to IFN-alpha treatment in HCV infection may be influenced by HCV genotypes, HCV RNA titer at the beginning of IFN-alpha therapy, and the sequences of the interferon sensitivity determining region (ISDR). However, there have also been reports showing that these have no relation to an IFN-alpha effect. In a previous study, it was found that the nucleotide sequence variation in the hypervariable region (HVR) 1 of the HCV could predict the effect of IFN-alpha. In the present investigation, an attempt was made to determine the predictive factors of IFN-alpha therapy. Twenty-six patients with HCV infection were treated with IFN-alpha. Among these, 13 patients recovered after 3 to 6 months of IFN-alpha treatment, although the other 13 patients showed no response after 6 months of treatment with IFN-alpha. In order to determine the predictive factors of IFN-alpha therapy, the ALT levels, HCV genotypes, HCV serum titer, and the quasispecies of HVR 1 were compared between responders and non-responders. It is suggested that the variation in the HVR 1 and HCV serum titer can be used to predict the effect of IFN-alpha.
Yeh
Byung-Il
BI
Department of Biochemistry and Institute of Basic Medical Science, Wonju School of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea.
Han
Kwang-Hyub
KH
Lee
Hyean-Woo
HW
Sohn
Joon Hyung
JH
Ryu
Wang-Shick
WS
Yoon
Do-Jun
DJ
Yoon
Joonho
J
Kim
Hyun-Won
HW
Kong
In Deok
ID
Chang
Sei Jin
SJ
Choi
Jong-Whan
JW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; C400562:HVR1 protein, Hepatitis C virus; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins