[Viral quasispecies and their implications in antiviral therapy].
The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the quasispecies in the HVR1 region of the hepatitis C virus and treatment evolution in order to determine whether genetic complexity is predictive of response to interferon therapy. The samples were analyzed by nested RT-PCR-mediated single-strand conformation polymorphism assay (SSCP). Twelve patients with chronic hepatitis C were studied and divided into three groups: three patients with sustained response, three patients with transient response and six nonresponders. The patients in the sustained response group showed a low genetic complexity pattern. By contrast, in three nonresponders and in one patient with transient response, the SSCP assay revealed a high complexity pattern. With regard to the remaining patients with transient response, new SSCP bands appeared, thereby modifying their genetic complexity pattern. Therefore, nonresponse to interferon treatment could be related to the presence of a high genetic complexity pattern, while the detection of a low genetic complexity pattern is necessary for a positive response to interferon therapy. Due to the limited number of patients involved in this study, it was not possible to predict the response to interferon based on the genetic complexity pattern. Larger studies are therefore required.
Fernández
B
B
Dpto. de Inmunología, Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina y Odontología, Universidad del País Vasco, Bilbao, España. bihotz_es@yahoo.es
Basaras
M
M
Blanco
S
S
Sánchez
S
S
Arrese
E
E
de las Heras
B
B
Cisterna
R
R
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha