title: Response of TT virus to IFN plus ribavirin treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  TT virus (TTV) is a newly described DNA virus related to postransfusion hepatitis that produces persistent viremia in the absence of clinical manifestations. PEG-IFN plus ribavirin have been useful in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection. This study investigated the responses of TT virus (TTV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) to PEG-IFN plus ribavirin therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients infected with HCV were treated with PEG-IFN(0.5 microg/body weight/week) and ribavirin (1 000 mg-1 200 mg/daily) for 48 weeks. Blood samples were drawn at the beginning and the end of the therapy. Serum TTV DNA and HCV RNA were quantified by real time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the beginning of treatment, TTV infection was detected in 10/15 (66.6%) of HCV-infected patients. Loss of serum TTV DNA at the end of therapy occurred in 6/10 (60%) patients. Out of these 6 patients, 4 (67%) became positive for TTV DNA after 6 months of therapy. Regarding HCV viremia, 11/15 (73%) patients were negative for serum HCV RNA after 48 weeks of therapy, 7/11 (64%) of these cases also became negative for TTV DNA following the combined treatment. In the 3/4 (75%) patients who were positive for HCV RNA at the end of therapy, TTV DNA was detected as well. Sustained HCV response at 6 months after treatment was 53% (8/15).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No TTV sustained response can be achieved in any patient after PEG-IFN plus ribavirin administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Ramony Cajal, Ctra. Colmenar, Km 9.1, 28034 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moraleda
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barcena
authors.forename: Mluisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mateos
authors.forename: Santos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: del Campo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D022783:Torque teno virus; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons