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

ABSTRACT

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