title: Early decrease in serum IV-7S levels during IFN treatment predicts anti-fibrogenic effect in nonresponders with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We evaluated whether early changes in serum levels of fibrogenic markers during interferon (IFN) treatment can predict long-term anti-fibrogenic effects in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively examined the serum levels of N-terminal peptide of type III procollagen (P-III-NP) and 7S domain of type IV collagen (IV-7S) in 56 patients with CHC who were revealed to be IFN-nonresponders. We measured these markers before (T0) and 1 month (T1) after the commencement of IFN therapy, at the end of 24 weeks' IFN therapy (T24), and 1 year (T24-1) and more than 2 years (T24-2) after the cessation of IFN therapy. We also measured these markers twice, at intervals of more than 2 years, in 43 IFN-untreated patients with CHC as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In nonresponders, both P-III-NP and IV-7S levels at T24-2 were significantly decreased compared with those at T0. P-III-NP levels at T1 were significantly decreased compared with those at T0, and remained at significantly low levels until the end of the observation period. IV-7S levels at T1 were not significantly different from those at T0. In patients whose IV-7S levels at T24-2 were decreased compared with those at T0, IV-7S levels at T1 were significantly lower than those at T0. In patients whose IV-7S levels at T24-2 were elevated or unchanged compared with those at T0, IV-7S levels at T1 were significantly higher than those at T0. In untreated patients, both P-III-NP and IV-7S levels at more than 2 years after the initial time were significantly increased compared with those at the initial time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An early decrease in IV-7S levels after IFN treatment is a useful indicator of anti-fibrogenic effects in nonresponders.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, School of Medicine, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Shintaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Ryouichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Narita
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiura
authors.forename: Dong Mei
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Akinari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tabaru
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otsuki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000097:blood*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide; D007372:Interferons