VIRUS ELIMINATION AND HISTOLOGIC IMPROVEMENT IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONICHEPATITIS-C TREATED WITH INTERFERON-ALPHA

We evaluated the elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by means of in terferon alpha (IFN-alpha) by investigating both positive-and negative -stranded RNA forms in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells and live r tissue. We also assessed the long-term histologic improvement accomp anying viral clearance. We studied 20 persons with HCV whose serum ami notransferase levels remained normal for more than 1.5 years after INF -alpha treatment withdrawal. The presence of HCV RNA in their peripher al blood and of both positive and negative strands in the peripheral b lood mononuclear cells and liver tissue was investigated using the rev erse transcription polymerase chain reaction method. We examined the h istologic findings using the European classification and the histology activity index scoring system. In 16 of 20 patients, both strands dis appeared from the possible reservoirs. The histologic findings indicat ed reduced activity, and histology activity index scores (1, 2, 3, and total) also showed significant improvement. We confirmed that IFN-alp ha therapy can induce the elimination of HCV RNA from the conceivable HCV reservoirs and effect histologic improvement. Therapy with IFN-alp ha is effective for treating chronic hepatitis C.