KINETICS OF HCV VIREMIA IN KIDNEY-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS DURING AND AFTER ALPHA-INTERFERON THERAPY

Fifteen kidney transplant recipients with chronic hepatitis C were giv en 3 million units recombinant alpha(2b)-interferon for 142 +/- 35 day s. There were significant decreases in hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA I m onth after the initiation of treatment (p < 0.01), and at the end of t reatment (p < 0.05). HCV RNA was undetectable by PCR analysis during t reatment in 5 patients. But HCV RNA reappeared in all patients 1 month after the cessation of therapy, and the level of viremia returned to baseline. While all patients had normalized alanine aminotransferase ( ALT) activities at the end of therapy, Il experienced a relapse during the follow-up period(1 year). There was a correlation between the amo unt of HCV RNA at the end of treatment and the time of relapse. Serum IgM against core protein of HCV were detected in 7/15 patients. Antico re IgM remained detectable during treatment and afterwards. There was no correlation between IgM status and other virological parameters, or ALT activity.