title: The influence of host factors and sequence variability of the p7 region on the response to pegylated interferon/ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b in patients from Serbia.
abstract: The goal of this study was to identify host and viral factors affecting the response to pegylated interferon/ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV) treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b. Baseline characteristics of the patients and sequences within the p7 region were analyzed in pre-treatment serum samples from 53 individuals with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b and related to the outcome of therapy. We found a significant correlation between age and response to therapy (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the pre-treatment viral load was closely associated with the stage of liver fibrosis (p < 0.001). The presence of fewer than 4 mutations and age above 40 were significantly associated with non-response (NR) (p < 0.001). Our findings may be useful for estimating the likelihood of achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients who are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b.
authors: Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Vinca, University of Belgrade, P.O. Box 522, Belgrade, Serbia. cupic@vinca.rs.
authors: Snezana
authors: S
authors: Jovanovic-Cupic
authors: Center for Multidisciplinary Research, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Vinca, University of Belgrade, P.O. Box 522, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors: Sanja
authors: S
authors: Glisic
authors: Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors: Maja
authors: M
authors: Stanojevic
authors: Clinics of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Military Medical Academy, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors: Darko
authors: D
authors: Nozic
authors: Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Vinca, University of Belgrade, P.O. Box 522, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Petrovic
authors: Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Vinca, University of Belgrade, P.O. Box 522, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors: Vesna
authors: V
authors: Mandusic
authors: Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Vinca, University of Belgrade, P.O. Box 522, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors: Milena
authors: M
authors: Krajnovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001483:Base Sequence; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055771:Serbia; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin; D014764:Viral Proteins; C088369:p7 protein, Hepatitis C virus; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins