SHORT-COURSE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C WITH INTERFERON-BETA - ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING RESPONSIVENESS TO THE THERAPY

Ninety-three Japanese chronic hepatitis C patients treated with natura l beta interferon (IFN-beta) in a 6-week protocol were investigated re trospectively for factors affecting responsiveness to the therapy. Nor malization of serum ALT levels was found in patients with a decrease i n serum HCV RNA titer. These patients (responders) had a significantly lower pre-treatment level of HCV RNA than others. Patients without su ch response (non-responders) were characterized by higher age, advance d liver histology, and higher frequency of type II (or 1b) HCV genotyp e. Of the four factors, HCV RNA titer, age, histology, and genotype, t he most significant factor to differentiate between responders and non -responders was the pre-treatment level of HCV RNA. Our study did not clearly associate HCV genotype III (or 2a) with responders, although t he results suggested that patients with genotype III have relatively l ower HCV RNA titer and milder liver histology than those infected with genotype II.