Relationship between the hepatitis C viral load and the serum interferon concentration during the first week of peginterferon-alpha-2b-ribavirin combination therapy.
In chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, the current standard of care (combination therapy with pegylated alpha interferon (PEG-IFNalpha) and ribavirin) is only effective in around 50% of cases. The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between the HCV load and the PEG-IFN concentration during the first week of treatment. Fifteen treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis C infection (genotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4) underwent PEG-IFNα-2b/ribavirin combination therapy. Blood samples were collected before the first injection (T(0)) and then at different time points until the next injection a week later. The PEG-IFN concentration and the HCV load were assayed. The serum interferon concentration peaked 2 days after the first injection (mean value for the study population; T(max) = 40.9 hr; C(max) = 490 pg/ml) and a trough in viral load was seen at day 3. The PEG-IFNalpha-2b concentration decreased from day 2 to day 7, enabling a viral rebound in all patients. The change in viral load between day 0 and day 3 differed significantly according to whether the patients were responders at week 12 (Deltalog d(0)/d(3) = 2.729 +/- 1.419 log(10) IU/ml) or not (Deltalog d(0)/d(3) = 1.102 +/- 0.472 log(10) IU/ml). Our results emphasize the potential clinical importance of achieving viral decay immediately after initiation of interferon-ribavirin combination therapy. J. Med. Virol. 82:1640-1646, 2010. 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
François
Catherine
C
Department of Clinical and Fundamental Virology EA4294, University Medical Center of Amiens, University Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
Descamps
Véronique
V
Brochot
Etienne
E
Bernard
Isabelle
I
Canva
Valérie
V
Mathurin
Philippe
P
Castelain
Sandrine
S
Duverlie
Gilles
G
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007372:Interferons / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044967:Serum / Q000737:chemistry; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b