HCV RNA MONITORING FOR TAILORED REGIMENS OF INTERFERON THERAPY IN HEPATITIS-C

Sustained non-viraemia is prerequisite for a virological cure of hepat itis C virus (HCV) disease. We monitored serum HCV RNA in our patients during interferon therapy and For 6 months of follow-up. The rate of sustained responders (RNA-negative at the end of follow-up) differed s ignificantly by whether or not RNA became sero-negative within 24 week s of the initiation of therapy (71% vs 7%); and also by whether or not the RNA-seronegativity lasted for 12 weeks during therapy (88% vs 11% ). Thus, by monitoring viraemia in individual patients, we can tailor the duration of therapy and minimize waste of interferon.