PROMPT DECREASE OF CIRCULATING HEPATITIS-C VIRUS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C AFTER TREATMENT WITH INTERFERON

Patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with interferon (IFN) a nd followed for hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and antibody to HCV (anti- HCV) in serum. The response was correlated with decrease in serum leve ls of HCV RNA, as well as HCV genotypes and liver histopathology. Resp onse to IFN, estimated by clearance of HCV RNA and normalization of am inotransferase levels at 6 months after the withdrawal of IFN, was obs erved in 11 (31%) of 35 patients infected with HCV of genotype II/1b, 13 (72%) of 18 with genotype III/2a, and 2 (33%) of 6 with genotype IV /2b; a single patient with genotype I/1a responded while the one doubl y infected with HCV of genotypes II/1b and IV/2b did not. Response was seen in 10 (71%) of 14 patients with chronic persistent hepatitis, 14 (39%) of 36 with chronic active hepatitis 2A, and 3 (27%) of 11 with 2B. Response was achieved less often in patients with high than low pr etreatment levels of HCV RNA. HCV RNA dropped sharply on a day after t he start of IFN, and continued to decrease during the 2 weeks, irrespe ctive of the response to IFN or HCV genotypes. In contrast, anti-HCV d ecreased more gradually and only in responders to IFN. These results s upport the rapid development of an IFN-mediated antiviral effect on HC V, and support therapeutic effects of IFN dependent on histopathology of liver as well as HCV RNA titers and genotypes,