Earlier loss of HCV RNA in interferon therapy can predict a long-term response in chronic hepatitis C

This study evaluated whether the loss of serum hepatitis C virus [HCV] RNA early in interferon [IFN] therapy would predict a subsequent response to IFN therapy. Thirty patients with chronic active hepatitis were enrolled in the study. The patients were positive for anti-HCV antibodies and serum HCV RNA. All patients were divided into two groups: Group I consisted of sustained responders [8 patients] and group II of non-sustained responders [22 patients]. Results showed that genotype 1 is the most prevailing in group II and genotype 4 is the most prevailing in group I. HCV RNA disappeared from the serum early in group I, 75% after 2 weeks, 87.5% after 4 weeks, and 100% after 24 weeks, while in group II none of the patients became negative after 2 weeks. After 6 months all patients of group II changed to positive again. ALT levels decreased significantly in both groups. It was normalized in all patients of group I after 24 weeks of therapy and remained normal after 6 months. In group II, 22.7% had normal ALT after 24 weeks, which changed again to high 6 months later [when PCR changed to positive]. Group I of sustained responders had 6 patients of genotypes 4, one patient of genotypes 1 and 3, while group II had 12 patients of genotype 1, 7 of genotype 2 and 3 of genotype 4

Comparison of low dose and high dose interferon alpha in chronic hepatitis C

40 patients with chronic hepatitis [proven by liver biopsy and by raised ALT and other liver enzymes 1.5 times the normal value] are enrolled in the study. They are divided randomly into 2 groups. Group I comprised 20 patients [14 males and 6 females]. They were given Interferon alpha 6 million units. Group II comprised 20 patients [15 males and 5 females], they were given Interferon alpha 3 million units. The liver enzymes were estimated every month for the period of one year. Only the first and the last samples were included in the study. Before treatment, all patients have positive HCV ab and HCV RNA. Results showed that liver enzymes respond significantly in group I [P <0.0001] than in group II. The degree of normalization of enzymes was higher in group I [60%] if compared with group II [35%]. In conclusion, these finding suggested that high dose interferon-alpha [6 MU] given for one year is more effective that low dose [3 MU] to reduce liver enzymes, for normalization in more percentage of patients, and in reducing the viremia in patients with chronic hepatitis C. In the same time, it has high incidence of side effects on the bone marrow

HCV genotyping, a predictor to response to interferon alpha therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C

The aim of this study was to find out a correlation between HCV genotype and the response to treatment with interferon [IFN] alpha in patients with chronic hepatitis due to virus C infection. 20 patients [14 males and 6 females] with chronic hepatitis proven by liver biopsy and raised ALT level 1.5 the normal value were enrolled in the study. All the patients were given IFN 6 million units 3 times per week for 6 months. Genotyping was done for all patients by RFLP technique. Results has shown that 10 patients have genotype 4 and 9 patients have genotype 1 and one patient has genotype 3. Patients were divided into group I [with genotype 4] [8 males and 2 females] and group II [with genotype I] [6 males and 3 females]. Serum ALT level decreased significantly after 6-month treatment in group I [P <0.001], while in group II SGPT is the only enzyme which showed significant decline. In conclusion, these findings suggested that genotype 4 is the most prevailing genotype in Egypt than the other genotypes, and that patients with genotype 4 have better response to treatment with interferon than genotype I. So, genotyping can be a good indicator to predict response to treatment with interferon