QUANTIFICATION AND GENOTYPING OF SERUM HCV-RNA IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C UNDERGOING INTERFERON TREATMENT

Quantification of serum HCV-RNA and HCV genotyping was studied in 27 p atients with chronic hepatitis C undergoing interferon treatment. Pret reatment serum HCV-RNA levels were quantified using competitive RT-PCR and compared to a quantitative RT-PCR assay based on co-amplification of HCV-RNA with a synthetic RNA standard. HCV genotyping was performe d using a line probe reversed hybridisation assay or direct solid-phas e sequencing. This study shows the feasibility of performing HCV-RNA q uantification. RT-PCR based on co-amplification HCV-RNA titer less tha n 6x10(4) genome equivalents/ml serum did correlate with a complete su stained response to alpha interferon in chronic hepatitis C. HCV genot ype Ib was a predominantly associated with a high non-responder rate. Future prospective trials will be required to evaluate quantitative HC V-RNA levels and HCV genotyping as response predicting parameters for interferon-treatment.