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

ABSTRACT

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