title: Pretreatment serum interferon gamma inducible protein-10 as biomarker of fibrosis and predictor of virological response in genotype 4 hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assess the value of baseline interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) levels as a noninvasive maker of liver fibrosis and as a predictor of response to interferon therapy in HCV genotype 4 infected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-four HCV genotype 4 infected patients were enrolled in this study. Degrees of liver fibrosis were determined and baseline IP-10 was measured in serum samples collected prior to initiation of treatment using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients were followed up for 1.5 year to assess their response to antiviral therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The baseline IP-10 levels were significantly correlated with the degree of fibrosis and had the ability to differentiate between patients with mild, moderate and advanced stages of fibrosis (F0-1: 95.24 ± 33.08 pg/ml, n = 25; F2: 158.70 ± 52.74 pg/ml, n = 37; F3-4: 357.45 ± 162.18 pg/ml, n = 22; P <0.001). Baseline IP-10 levels were significantly lower in patients achieved Early virological response (responders 134.80 ± 60.47 pg/ml, n = 60; non-responders 334.54 ± 168.94 pg/ml, n = 24, P <0.001). Also baseline IP-10 levels were significantly lower in patients who became HCV RNA negative at 24 weeks of therapy (179.52 ± 130.03 pg/ml, n = 78) than non-responders (352.33 ± 132.58 pg/ml, n = 6, P = 0.002). SVR was achieved in 58/68 (85.3%) patients while 10 patients were relapsed. Baseline IP-10 levels differs significantly between patients who achieved SVR at week 24 post therapy and relapsed patients (IP10 level: SVR, 173.52 ± 125.20 pg/ml, n = 58; Relapsed, 216.20 ± 67.72 pg/ml, n = 10, P = 0.021).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Baseline IP-10 level independently predicts EVR, response at week 24 during therapy and SVR. It also differentiates patients with mild fibrosis from those with moderate and advanced fibrosis.
authors: K A
authors: KA
authors: Khalifa
authors: W M
authors: WM
authors: Radwan
authors: K M
authors: KM
authors: Attallah
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Hosney
authors: E M
authors: EM
authors: Eed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10