title: [Effect of hepatitis C virus serotype on the response of patients with chronic hepatitis C to interferon treatment].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the influence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) serotype on the interferon (IFN) treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-eight patients with chronic hepatitis C were divided into two groups: patients in group 1 (n=53) were treated with Pegasys, 180 ug injected subcutaneously once a week for 24 weeks, and those in group 2 (n=45) were injected with Roferon-A 3 MU three times a week for 24 weeks and then patients in both groups were followed up for another 24 weeks. The virological response at the end of follow up was the primary endpoint for evaluating the effects of IFN treatment. The HCV RNA levels of the chronic hepatitis C patients were determined with COBAS AMPLICOR MONITOR Test, version 2.0, and the HCV serotypes were examined by the means of ELISA using Murex HCV Serotyping 1-6 Assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 98 cases, HCV in 44 cases was serotype 1, in 23 was serotype 2, in 10 was serotype 3, in 1 was serotype 4, 1 was serotype 5 and in 2 was serotype 6; HCV serotypes in the remaining 17 patients could not determined. In Pegasys treatment group, the biochemical and virological response was not significantly different at the end of treatment between the patients with serotype 1 and non serotype 1 or serotype undetermined patients, but the sustained virological response rate of HCV serotype undetermined group (66.7 percent) was significantly higher than that of serotype 1 patients (27.3 percent) (p=0.035). In Roferon-A treatment group, the virological response rate at 24 weeks and sustained viral response rate at the end of follow-up was not significantly different between serotype 1 and non serotype 1 patients or serotype undetermined patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After the six months treatment course, the HCV serotype had some effects on the treatment response to Pegasys treatment for chronic hepatitic C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Beijing 100011, China.
authors.forename: Li-jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ming-hui
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Dao-zhen
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D007372:Interferons