title: Variability of hepatitis C virus hypervariable region 1 (HVR-1) during the early phase of pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Genetic variability of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is considered to be an important factor defining viral pathogenesis, persistence and resistance to treatment. The aim of the present study was to characterize HCV genetic heterogeneity within a hypervariable region 1 (HVR-1) before and during the early period of pegylated interferon alfa (PEG-IFN-α) and ribavirin treatment in correlation with treatment outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved 24 patients treated with PEG-IFN-α and ribavirin whose sera were collected before (baseline) and at 7, 14, 21 28 and 56 day of treatment. HCV HVR-1 region was amplified by nested RT- PCR and subjected to SSCP (single strand conformational polymorphism) analysis. SSCP changes of HCV HVR-1 over time in each patient were compared to treatment outcome results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2/11 (18%) SVR+ and 8/13 (62%) SVR- treated patients, HVR-1 genetic changes manifested by new SSCP bands (new genetic variants) and were significantly more frequent in nonresponders (P <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that HCV HVR-1 variability during the early phase of PEG-IFN-α and ribavirin therapy may be predictive of treatment outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunopathology of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. kamila.caraballo@wum.edu.pl
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Caraballo Cortés
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laskus
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bukowska-Ośko
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pawełczyk
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Berak
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horban
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radkowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; C400562:HVR1 protein, Hepatitis C virus; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b