Abstract
To determine whether the loss of serum hepatitis C virus RNA (HCV-RNA) early in interferon therapy would indicate a sustained response to this agent, we detected serum HCV-RNA successively during and after therapy. Serum samples for detection of HCV-RNA were obtained serially from 36 patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon-α. In 28 of these patients, results of the assay were compared with genotypes and quantitative levels of HCV-RNA in serum before therapy. HCV-RNA was detected by a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction using the 5′-noncoding region as a primer. Genotypes were determined by using type-specific primers, and serum levels of HCV-RNA were determined by a competitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). HCV-RNA disappeared from serum in eight of 10 responders (80%), but in only one of the 26 nonresponders (3.8%) at the second week of therapy (P<0.0005). The time until the disappearance of HCV-RNA was correlated with the serum level of HCV-RNA present before therapy (P<0.05). The early disappearance of HCV-RNA from serum during interferon therapy was useful in predicting a sustained response in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
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Hino, K., Okuda, M., Konishi, T. et al. Serial assay of hepatitis C virus RNA in serum for predicting response to interferon-α therapy. Digest Dis Sci 40, 14–20 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02063935
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02063935