ANTIBODY PATTERNS LACK OF PREDICTIVITY IN DETERMINING THE RESPONSE OFVIRAL HEPATITIS-C TO INTERFERON THERAPY

The aim of the study was to investigate whether the immunoblot pattern for HCV is a predictor of the response to interferon treatment. In a group of 60 patients with persistent rise of aminotransferase, all wer e treated with 3-6MU of Alfa-IFN from normal leucocytes every other da y for 6 months, followed by one weekly dose of 1-3 MU for 3 months. HC V serum markers were detected before treatment and every three months thereafter. In 22 out of 60 (36.6%) patients aminotransferase normaliz ed and remained so for 3 months after therapy; 12 patients (54.5%) rel apsed during a follow-up of 9-12 months. The most frequent pattern in responders and non responders was the positivity to four antibodies (5 5%). The pattern did not change during or after IFN therapy, nor was i t related to the variation of aminotransferases. Three patients lost a ntibodies linked to viral replication (c100-3, 5-1-1) and 3 others bec ame positive to the same antigens. No changes were observed during the follow-up of patients who had an initial normalization of ALT/AST lev els and who then relapsed (either during the maintenance dose or durin g the whole follow-up:n= 19 pts). Therefore neither the antibody clear ance of viral replication (c100-3 and 5-1-1) nor the antibody pattern is a valid predictor as to the efficacy of interferon therapy.