Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
3311500 | Hepatology Research | 2006 | 6 Pages |
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to assess parameters in early phase HCV dynamics for predicting the outcome of interferon (IFN)/ribavirin combination therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CH-C). Sixty-five CH-C patients who received IFN alpha-2b/ribavirin combination therapy were enrolled. The serum levels of HCV RNA 0Â h and 3 months after commencing therapy were serially quantified. HCV kinetic parameters such as quantity, ratio of decline, and half-life were analyzed. In genotype 1 patients, both the quantity and the ratio of decline of HCV RNA 24Â h after the start of therapy were useful predictors of a poor response. No patients who had serum HCV RNA above 200Â KIU/ml 24Â h after the start of therapy achieved a sustained viral response (SVR). In genotype 2 patients, conversely, these two parameters were predictors of a sustained viral response. The efficacy of these parameters in predicting the outcome of therapy was comparable to that of the disappearance of HCV RNA from sera at 4 weeks. These results demonstrate that parameters of HCV kinetics 24Â h after the start of therapy are useful for the early prediction of outcome in response to IFN alpha-2b/ribavirin combination therapy.
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Authors
Akiko Makiyama, Yoshito Itoh, Kohichiroh Yasui, Kohjiroh Mori, Mika Okita, Mika Nakayama, Junko Yamaoka, Masahito Minami, Tomoki Nakajima, Takeshi Okanoue,