title: [Association between raised IL-8 serum levels and resistance to combined peg-interferon plus ribavirin therapy in HCV+ active chronic hepatitis].
abstract: IL-8 serum levels were measured in a group of 44 patients affected with Chronic Active Hepatitis (CAH) HCV+ at the beginning and end of peg-interferon plus ribavirin combined therapy. IL-8 levels were compared with those measured in a group of healthy controls. The patients were treated for 12 months, and then followed up for 6 months after the end of the therapy. IL-8 serum levels were detected by ELISA at the beginning and end of the therapy, and then at the end of the follow-up. IL-8 serum levels were significantly more elevated (p<0.01) in CAH HCV+ patients than in the healthy controls. Furthermore, IL-8 serum levels in those patients who subsequently showed a sustained virological response to the therapy, declined on treatment and maintained lower levels than in those who did not respond to therapy. Serum IL-8 can be considered and proposed as a non-invasive and predictive marker of response to combined PEG IFN alpha2b + Ribavirin in CAH HCV +.
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Malattie Infettive, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Medicina Specialistica, Universita di Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cacopardo
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nigro
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nunnari
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Medica
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cappellani
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palermo
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cappello
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Russo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015415:Biomarkers; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016209:Interleukin-8; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b