Usefulness of a new immunoradiometric assay of HCV core antigen to predict virological response during PEG-IFN/RBV combination therapy for chronic hepatitis with high viral load of serum HCV RNA genotype 1b.
We investigated the clinical usefulness of a new immunoradiometric (IRM) assay of hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen in predicting virological response during pegylated interferon plus ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV) combination therapy for chronic hepatitis with high viral loads of serum HCV RNA genotype 1b. Thirty-nine patients received a regimen of PEG-IFNalpha-2b (1.5 microg/kg/week s.c.) in combination with RBV (600-1,000 mg/day). Of the 39 patients, 18 (46.2%) achieved sustained virological response (SVR), 11 (28.2%) attained partial response (PR) and 10 (25.6%) showed no response (NR). Four weeks after the start of therapy, 1- and 2-log reductions in the amount of HCV core antigen were observed in 20 (2/10) and 0% (0/10) showing NR, 91 (10/11) and 63.6% (7/11) with PRs, and 88.9 (16/18) and 55.6% (10/18) of patients with SVR, respectively. The 1- and 2-log reductions 4 weeks after the start of therapy were not a defining condition for PR and SVR. The amount of HCV core antigen was significantly different between SVR and PR patients on days 1 and 7, and between patients with NR and SVR at all points of time. In conclusion, this new IRM assay is useful in predicting virological response during PEG-IFN/RBV therapy.
Department of Pharmacy, Kobe Asahi Hospital, Kobe, Japan.
Noriko
N
Sasase
Soo Ryang
SR
Kim
Ke Ih
KI
Kim
Miyuki
M
Taniguchi
Susumu
S
Imoto
Keiji
K
Mita
Hak
H
Hotta
Ikuo
I
Shouji
Ahmed
A
El-Shamy
Norifumi
N
Kawada
Masatoshi
M
Kudo
Yoshitake
Y
Hayashi
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011379:Prognosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b