RESUMO
To evaluate the predictive value for a response of interferon (IFN) and the effect of IFN on the metabolism of hepatic fibrosis, serum levels of 7S domain of type IV collagen (7S) were serially measured before and after 6 months of IFN treatment in 470 treated and 145 untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C. Serum initial 7S levels were closely correlated with hepatic fibrosis scores (r = 0.627, p < 0.001). Those levels in nonresponder were significantly higher than those in sustained and transient responders. Serum 7S levels decreased during and after treatment in all treated groups, but increased in the untreated group. The absolute changes in 7S levels at the end of IFN therapy did not correlate with the changes in ALT levels, but correlated negatively with the initial 7S levels (r = -0.678, p < 0.001) in the treated group. Serum 7S levels at the end of treatment increased temporarily in patients with lower pretreatment levels, but decreased in those with elevated initial levels. These results suggest that IFN treatment modulates serum 7S levels according to the pretreatment levels in chronic hepatitis C.
