GAMMA-GLUTAMYL-TRANSPEPTIDASE AS A RESPONSE PREDICTOR WHEN USING ALPHA-INTERFERON TO TREAT HEPATITIS-C

Background/Aims: This study was performed to identify response predict ors for Interferon, therapy given to patients with chronic hepatitis C . Materials and Methods: The biochemical measures of liver injury that characterize viral hepatitis due to hepatitis C were followed prospec tively in 84 individuals treated with alpha-Interferon. In addition, t he liver histology and the hepatic iron, content of these same individ uals, prior to the initiation of Interferon therapy, were determined. Results: Patients not responding to the interferon therapy showed an i ncrease in Liver iron content from an average of 337 ug/g wet weight. In responder to a value of 1075 mu g/g wet weight in. non responders. gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels in responders were significantly lower than in partial or non-responders. Conclusions: Both the hepatic iron. content of the liver and the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase valu e prior to treatment were able to predict a clinical response to Inter feron therapy. More importantly, the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase Lev el measured in serum could be used to monitor the IFN response during treatment and was found to predict clinical exacerbations of hepatitis following withdrawal of Interferon therapy.