RELATIONSHIP OF SERUM 2.5-OLIGOADENYLATE SYNTHETASE-ACTIVITY DURING INTERFERON THERAPY TO PRETREATMENT LEVELS OR GENOTYPES OF SERUM HCV-RNA

2.5 oligoadenylate synthetase (2.5AS) activity is induced during inter feron (IFN) therapy of patients with chronic hepatitis C. It is assume d that the genotype and quantitative level of hepatitis C virus RNA (H CV-RNA) in serum preceding IFN therapy are closely associated with the response to IFN. However, it is not clear whether these viral factors may affect 2.5AS activity during IFN therapy. We analyzed 2.5AS activ ity during IFN therapy in patients with different genotypes or levels of serum HCV-RNA. However, there were no statistical differences in 2. 5AS activity among them. In the present study, those viral factors wer e not associated with the induction of 2.5AS activity during IFN thera py, and it is unlikely that differences in response to IFN among patie nts with different genotypes or quantitative levels of HCV-RNA depend on the 2.5AS pathway.