N. Yuki et al., CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND ANTIBODY PROFILES OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS-CPATIENTS - RELATION TO HEPATITIS-C VIRUS GENOTYPES, Journal of medical virology, 45(2), 1995, pp. 162-167
Genotyping of 179 consecutive Japanese chronic hepatitis C patients wa
s carried out based on the variation in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) co
re gene. The results were correlated with clinical features and antibo
dy responses toward specific HCV proteins deduced from the nucleotide
sequence of genotype I/1a. Genotypes II/1b, III/2a, and IV/2b were ide
ntified in 138 (77%), 24 (13%), and 12 (7%) patients, respectively. Fi
ve patients had double infections. Genotype dependence was observed on
ly for antibody response toward the NS4 (5-1-1) protein, which was inf
requent in genotype III/2a patients (33%) compared with genotype II/1b
(81%; P < 0.01) and genotype IV/2b (75%; P < 0.05). Following interfe
ron-alpha therapy, sustained aminotransferase normalisation was achiev
ed by 89% (eight of nine) patients without antibody to the 5-1-1 prote
in and 33% (17 of 51) with it (P < 0.01). These findings indicate that
absence of antibody response to the 5-1-1 protein is frequent in geno
type III/2a HCV carriers and may serve to predict responses to interfe
ron therapy. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.